Why Kenyan Tomato Farmers Are Throwing Away Their Produce
Kelvin Wairimu 
Discarded Tomato
Tomato farmers in Kirinyaga County and other tomato-growing regions are throwing away their tomatoes or feeding them to pigs and cows because of a lack of market demand and the current low prices.
Sadly, this is not the first time such a situation has occurred. Many farmers, affected by market oversaturation, have faced bankruptcy in the past.
This cycle repeats itself every two years, particularly during the December and January seasons. In some instances, it has happened twice within a year—in July and December.
So why does this repetitive issue continue to plague farmers? Unfortunately, many Kenyan farmers have short memories.
Read Also: Is Tomato Farming in Kenya Profitable? Everything you Need to Know
They often operate under the illusion of quickly making substantial profits. After a poor season, the following good season leads farmers to expect high profits, creating a sense of urgency. However, this optimism often lasts only for a week or, at most, a month.
The art of timing is crucial in this business. Regrettably, in today’s landscape, it is challenging to predict with certainty when prices will spike.
Unlike in the past when Kenya relied heavily on local supply, the market has become liberalized. Buyers can now source tomatoes from farmers in Rwanda and Sudan, making it difficult to maintain a sustained season of scarcity.
Farming tomatoes is a costly venture, requiring farmers to invest millions of shillings in seeds, fertilizers, and pest and disease control.
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