Why Kenyan Farmers Are Selling Cabbages for Just Ksh. 2: The Shocking Truth About Falling Produce Prices
Kelvin Wairimu 
Fresh Produce Review
Kenyan farmers are lamenting the low market prices they are experiencing nationwide. An oversupply of produce and low purchasing power have driven prices to unprecedented lows.
For instance, the market is flooded with cabbages, leading brokers to sell them at a throwaway price of Ksh. 10 each. After accounting for the logistics of transporting cabbages from the farm to the market, farmers are left selling them for as little as Ksh. 2 per head. This is disheartening, as such prices fail to cover even the cost of labor.
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Cabbages are just one example of how farm produce prices have plummeted this year. The farm gate prices for produce are as follows: tomatoes at Ksh. 2,000 per crate, onions at Ksh. 25 per kilo, potatoes at Ksh. 2,500 per bag, capsicums at Ksh. 35 per kilo, and spinach and kale at Ksh. 10 per kilo. Broccoli has also flooded the market and is now even cheaper than cabbages, selling for Ksh. 20 per head.
Farmers had planted large volumes of produce anticipating high market prices during the December holidays, which are typically a lucrative time as consumer spending increases. However, this year, consumer spending is low, with buyers only purchasing what they consider necessities.
Farm prices are expected to remain low for the rest of the year and may only start to rise next year, potentially in response to drought conditions. This is an opportune time for proactive farmers to plant short-duration varieties, aiming for harvests in February or March.
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