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: 26 April 2017; Hits: 8969

Towns beat Nairobi in agro-produce prices

Red cabbage Nyeri, ASK By Laban Robert.JPG

Farmers at the background admire red cabbage at the Nyeri ASK Show Ground in 2016. Cabbage sellers in Busia town are making close to three times more than their Nairobi counterparts. Photo by Laban Robert.

Unlike the popular believe that Nairobi market offers the highest prices for agro-products, farmers selling goods like cabbages in Busia town and other regions are making close to three times more profits due to the market demand.

At wholesale price, farmers are selling a 126kg bag of cabbage at Sh5,040 in Busia town while their Nairobi counterparts are getting Sh1,740 for the same quantity.

The difference between the two towns is Sh3,300, according to the National Farmers Information Service, NAFIS.

That means that the cost of one kilo of a cabbage costs Sh40 in Busia town and about Sh14 in the capital city.

Nakuru, which is a mainly agricultural town in the Rift Valley, pays Sh1,200 - the lowest for the 126kg cabbage bag.

Mombasa, Kisumu, Kitui, Meru and Kisii pay Sh4,500, Sh2,400, Sh2,000 and S2,500, Sh1,800 respectively.

Western and parts of Rift Valley are the main food producing regions in the country, with counties like Trans-Nzoia, Kakamega, Busia, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga and Bungoma economies being supported by agriculture.

Busia County borders Uganda. The recent drought that hit most parts of Kenya also ravaged food crops in neighbouring country.

The Bank of Uganda in mid April announced that the ongoing drought has hard hit the agriculture sector.

The drought has been described as “exceptional” and the “worst in the country’s history”, according to the All East Africa newspaper.

Indeed the country recorded temperatures of up to 38.5 degrees centigrade in northern region district, Nebii.

“The cross-border trade may be the reason cabbage and other commodities are becoming expensive here. A small cabbage that was selling at about Sh10 is costing more than Sh40,” Francis Jumba, a resident of the border town, said.

The resident said he has left the cabbages for “special occasions” and moved to sukuma wiki, which is more affordable.

Ironically, a 50kg bag of sukuma wiki (kales) at wholesale is costing Sh2,000 in Nairobi while wholesalers in Busia are paying Sh550.

In general, tomatoes and maize prices have more than doubled in Kenya as a result of the dry spell that lasted for more than four months, from October 2016.

The cost of production, market proximity from the area of production, perishability, demand and supply, are among the market dynamics determining the cost of commodities.

For instance the cost of cabbages produced from farms near Nakuru will cost almost twice when sold in Mombasa, which relies of goods from upcountry. But the price may also be lower in Mombasa than in Nakuru if the demand in the prior town is poor.

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: 25 April 2017; Hits: 7644

Maize price may remain high with worm invasion

A man carries a 90kg maize bag. Maize prices may continue rising with the invasion of the FAW despite the rains. Photo by The Star.

With the invasion of the fall army worm (FAW), the cost of dry maize in Kenya may continue to rise even with the onset of rains for planting as Busia County shoots to be the highest paying town for a bag of the cereal.

A 90kg bag of maize costs Sh5,625 in Busia while consumers in Meru are paying Sh3,300 for the same quantity.

Consumers in Kitui County pay Sh5,500 for the bag while those in Kisumu part with Sh5,200.

The price in Nairobi and Mombasa is Sh4,600 and Sh4,500 respectively.

Eldoret and Nakuru towns are offering Sh3,800 and Sh4,000 respectively, according to the Agriculture and Food Authority.

Maize prices have been on the rise for more than five months since drought struck most parts of the country from September 2016.

Although it was not the main production season of maize, the drought caused more harvests to be converted to animal feeds as pastures ran dry.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) says the depressed rains in Eastern Africa in the second half exerted pressure on maize, resulting in the surge in the prices.

Maize is the most produced cereal with more than 800 tons being harvested yearly throught the world. It is also a staple food for more than 600 million people in the world.

Livestock and human consumption millers have been passing the high cost of the maize to consumers with a 2kg packet that cost Sh105 last year reaching Sh160.

READ ALSO: Aflasafe ends aflatoxin agony

The government’s move to release about 1.5 tons of maize to the millers and allowing for importation of the cereal from major producers like Mexico has seen the cost of the 2kg packet drop to between Sh125 and Sh135.

However, the onset of the long rains in accelerating the production of maize may be scuttled by the invasion of the FAW, which have spread to more than 12 counties in the western part of the Rift Valley.

They include Trans-Nzoia, Nakuru, Kakamega, Busia, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, among others. These are the main food producing regions in Kenya. The pest is spreading further to the central and eastern parts.

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) says the pest can destroy the crop by up to 100 per cent, even as international organisations converge in Nairobi this week to discuss mitigation measures.

Even with the US’s advanced research and technology, the pest causes losses of up to Sh30.6 trillion per year.

The cost of agricultural produce has steadily risen from the last quarter of 2016 with tomatoes and maize being on top of the list.

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: 19 April 2017; Hits: 6801

Milk prices to drop with rains

Fodder grass Fredrick Misoi By Laban Robert.JPG

Kakamega Prisons officer Fredrick Misoi inspects fodder grass. The rains may cause a drop in milk yield in weeks. Photo by Laban Robert

The onset of rains in most parts of the country may see a drop in the cost of fresh milk and other agricultural produce prices, which have sharply risen due to the prolonged drought lasting for more than four months.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has announced that the rains will continue until June this year, a factor that will allow for regeneration of cultivated and free-range pastures for livestock.

High prices of maize, which a 90kg bag costing up to Sh4,800 in Kisumu, has contributed to the high cost of milk as it is used in the manufacturing of feeds.

The cost of a 70kg bag of feed rose by between Sh200 and Sh300 as more livestock in the Northern and Rift valley regions succumbed to starvation.

A 500ml packet of fresh milk is retailing at between Sh60 and Sh65 in most retail outlets. Less common brands are retailing at Sh50 and Sh60. Retailers who had stocks of long life milk are cashing in on the shortage, by making profits of more than Sh10 per packet.

A 200ml packet that cost Sh20 is not selling at Sh25.

READ ALSO: New Farmpro fodder doubles milk

The rains are falling in most parts of the country, with North Eastern receiving the latest showers, which caused deaths of more than 500 sheep in Wajir North and tens of other livestock in Mandera - according to the Kenya Red Cross.

Most Rift Valley and central Kenya farmers rely on direct pastures, with more others using daily meal and fodder to feed their livestock.

The rains will increase the fodder, Napier and other grasses in a month, therefore, giving livestock plenty of feeds for more milk.

Tomatoes have also increased in process with a crate of 64kg costing up to Sh7,000 in Nairobi from Sh4,000 in October last year.

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