Are you stranded on what crops to plant in August due to the continued increase in market supply and fall in prices?
This article explains why bulb Onions, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, managu, peas, and carrots are not the best crops to grow in August.
Bulb onion supply has increased from local production and imports from Tanzania. This is expected to continue until January 2024 as farmers who planted targeting the October market will sustain the high supply. Therefore, onion prices are less likely to exceed ksh.40 per kilo soon.
More farmers are expected to plant tomatoes as they clear maize farms, ultimately increasing supply and lowering prices. Don’t forget that farmers are still harvesting tomatoes, so supply may not fall soon.
Check Out This: The latest food price Trends! Tomatoes, Onions and More
Though there is always good demand for cabbage, the availability of other vegetables, such as kale, pushes cabbage demand and prices down.
Any farmer interested in planting cabbages should consider the harvesting time and avoid it conceding the October rains when the supply of vegetables is high.
Planting kale and spinach is cheaper, but prices are more volatile. A change in weather patterns influences market prices. While rain lowers demand and prices, drought pushes prices and demand high.
Kale and spinach mature in 30-45 days, making them a preferable option for many. The easier a crop is to produce, the higher the price volatility. Currently, more farmers are planting kale and spinach, and they expect a high supply in the next two to three months.
Read Also: How to Grow Kales (Sukuma Wiki) from Seed to Harvest
Nyandarua County, the home of peas and carrots, determines prices in the Kenyan market. Pea and carrot production happens in June-July and September-October.
Therefore, planting peas and carrots in August will compromise Nyandarua production and may fetch low market prices. However, any change in weather, supply and purchasing power may vary market prices. Before any production, carry out market due diligence.
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