Tomato farmers in the leading tomato-producing counties are counting losses as an oversupply continues to hit the market for the second month in row.
The glut has occasioned a sharp drop in prices of the highly perishable vegetable, with a kilo of tomatoes selling for as little as Sh15 in some markets.
Consequently, a 100 kilogrammes’ crate of tomato is going for as low as Sh 2000 from Sh 8000, recording a low of up to 70 per cent.
At Murang’a’s main market, Mukuyu, a spot check by KNA revealed this sharp contrast where consumers are overjoyed at the price drop whereas farmers are counting losses.
The tomatoes are sourced from the neighbouring Kirinyaga, Nyeri, and Laikipia counties.
One of the farmers, John Muthii from PI, Kirinyaga County, noted that in all his 10 years growing tomatoes, he has never experienced such a sharp drop in prices.
He adds that the cost of production far surpasses the returns in investment for his one-acre piece of land.
“The oversupply has seen me sell the tomatoes at a throwaway price so as to avoid post-harvest losses, even though it is impossible to recover even half of the production cost,” he said.
The cost of quality seeds, labour, and pesticides for an acre of land is relatively high and would go up to Sh 100,000, yet now I’m selling a 50-kilogramme’ crate of tomatoes, which is not going beyond Sh500 due to the oversupply.”
Consumers on the other side, particularly kachumbari lovers, have a sigh of relief at the low prices of tomatoes and most basic commodities.
They have noted that the cost of life has been high, and any drop in the price of basic commodities is welcome.
“I have just bought three kilogrammes of tomatoes at Sh60; this will take my family more than two weeks, and I am happy,” says Jane Njeri, as she hands a Sh100 note to the trader.
“Initially, Sh60 would give me just a kilo or a half of this, so let me bask in the glory of low prices before they shoot and I will be unable to afford tomatoes for every meal,” she adds.
Joseph Njane echoes her sentiments, noting that, as an egg and smokies seller, the drop in prices have made him make more sales as he is able to serve his customers with more kachumbari.
“This is a jungle, as the consumers, we are happy, the farmers are counting losses, but what do we do? he poses, adding that, “We are the same people who buy a kilo of tomatoes at Sh150, so let us enjoy the low prices as we give our customers the best so that when prices skyrocket, they will also bear with the situation.”
By Florence Kinyua
