Tomato prices double in Kenya

The cost of tomatoes in Kenya has doubled as heavy rains hit supply. The rains not only disrupted su…

The cost of tomatoes in Kenya has doubled as heavy rains hit supply. The rains not only disrupted supply of the commodity by damaging roads, but have also led to increased diseases that have affected the crop, particularly for farmers growing in open fields.

The long rains season normally starts in March and ends in May, paving way for a dry season in many parts of the country, save for Nairobi. However, this time, the rains are still ongoing leading to flooding that has caused loss of lives and destruction of property.

According to the Meteorological Department, the rains, which have been above normal, will continue until later this month, affecting production of crops like tomatoes.

Kenyans may brace for a further hike of tomato prices. A 64kg box of the commodity in wholesale markets in the capital Nairobi is going for an average of 62 U.S. dollars, up from 55 dollars weeks ago.