Kenya: Tomato prices in six-month low following glut
Markets in the East African nation are now flooded with the commodity that few months ago Kenyans had abandoned due to unaffordable prices.
A 64 kg box of tomatoes that was going for between 77 U.S. dollars and 91 dollars in various wholesale markets in the East African nation in August is now retailing at an average of 51 dollars.
In Nairobi, the 64 kg box of tomatoes in wholesale market is being sold at an average of 45 dollars, down from 78 dollars two months ago.
The 33 dollars drop is a big relief to city residents and traders who had been hit hard by high prices.
At Wakulima and Muthurwa markets on the outskirts of the city centre, a survey on Wednesday showed that traders had excess supply of the commodity.
Dumpsites at the markets were also littered with produce that had gone bad, an indication of how some of the traders were facing difficulties selling the horticultural produce.
As expected, retail prices have equally plummeted, with most vegetable stores in middle income city estates selling two tomatoes at 0.11 dollars.
In August, traders in the suburbs were selling a single tomato at between 0.11 dollars and 0.16 dollars. Lower income residential areas are now selling three tomatoes at 0.11 dollars. Five smaller tomatoes are being sold at 0.22 dollars.
Many tomato farms in Kenya were in the past months ravaged by a pest called Tuta absoluta. Other diseases include tomato blight.
Affected farmers were mainly in Oloitoktok in Kajiado County, Kirinyaga and Meru in Mt Kenya region and in Isiolo, Eastern Kenya.
Traders expect prices of tomatoes to plummet towards the festive season due to a dry spell during the period that is favourable for tomato production.
Kenya produces an average of 500,000 tonnes of tomatoes valued at over 160 million dollars every year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Source: coastweek.com