Bulb onion is one of the most consumed vegetables in Kenya. It is a key necessity in almost every meal. However, its demand has attracted many farmers and traders into the business.
The cost of production in Kenya is often high compared to neighboring countries making it cheap to import rather than buy locally. This ends up flooding the local market and lowering retail prices as is the case currently.
On our visit to Wakulima market in Nairobi, most traders were stranded with slow-moving bulb onions which are of low quality due to water destruction. Most of the onions are extra-large in grade and poorly dried. Read Also: how to farm capsicums
The average retail price was Ks 35 per kilo. This means maybe at farm gate it was Ks 20 or below for good grades but for lowers grades can be as low as KS 10 per kilo.
This is worrying as farmers cannot make any profit at those prices. Slow consumer absorption, imports and current political demonstrations are to blame for the influx and degradation of quality.
What next?
It will take a while before the market prices stabilize. The only solution is if there is a change in consumer income that will increase buying. Continuous losses by traders may lower their purchasing ability and hence reduce the quantity that gets into the market.
This will naturally stabilize the prices at least above the cost of production.
