Kenya: Drop in tomato prices concerns farmers

Following a sharp drop in prices, hundreds of tomato farmers in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, are worried…

Following a sharp drop in prices, hundreds of tomato farmers in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, are worried. The poor prices are being attributed to a glut of the commodity and a lack of market. A survey by Nation established that one kilogramme of tomatoes now costs Sh20 down from Sh120.

The drastic change in price is forcing farmers from the region, which is leading in horticultural farming, to sell their produce at throw-away prices.

"We had a bumper harvest but unfortunately there is no market for our produce.

"In fact we are incurring heavy losses because prices have plummeted," said Ms Mary Kariuko, a farmer.

Some farmers are now feeding their cows with tomatoes as there are very few buyers.

Some of the produce is rotting in farms in Mwea and other parts of the county because the farmers lack cooling plants for storage and preservation.

The farmers said they depend on the tomatoes to educate their children and meet other financial needs "but now we shall suffer."