Grocery traders in both Maua and Laare Market in Meru County have raised concerns over an acute tomato shortage that has pushed prices to record highs, forcing some traders to suspend sales altogether as consumers struggle with the rising cost of living.
The traders say prolonged rains, high fuel prices, poor road networks and increased farming costs have disrupted supply chains, leaving markets with little or sometimes no stock.
Speaking at Laare market, grocery wholesaler Salome Karimi said the business environment had become increasingly untenable to realise desired returns due to the soaring prices of tomatoes and other fresh produce.
Karimi explained that a kilogramme of tomatoes currently costs up to Sh100 at the farm, forcing traders to retail the produce at about Sh110 to Sh120 to make minimal profits.
She noted that customers who previously bought a kilogramme or more are now opting to purchase only a few tomatoes at a time.
“Customers who used to buy one kilogramme or five kilogrammes are now buying five tomatoes for Sh50. Others have completely switched to alternative spices because tomatoes have become too expensive,” she said.
Glory Kiende, a consumer in Maua Market, noted that since the rise of tomato prices, she has opted for carrots which doesn’t need one to dig deeper in one’s pocket.
According to the traders, tomatoes are now retailing at Sh10 each, further reducing demand and hurting businesses already grappling with low purchasing power among consumers.
Another trader, Kawira Salome, said the shortage has forced her to continue operating without tomatoes after suppliers failed to secure produce from farms.
“In the past we bought tomatoes directly from farmers at as low as Sh30 per kilogramme and sold them wholesale at Sh40 or Sh50. Today there are no tomatoes in the market and prices have nearly doubled,” she said.
She added that most customers currently lack disposable income, leaving traders with unsold vegetables that end up going bad.
The high prices have also affected food vendors who depend on tomatoes for daily business operations.
Marion Makena, a smokies and egg vendor in Laare, said tomatoes and onions are essential ingredients in preparing kachumbari served alongside her products.
“Without tomatoes you cannot sell properly. We are buying them at very high prices and our profits keep shrinking. When you reduce the amount of salad customers complain, while others avoid buying completely,” she lamented.
Makena said the rising cost of living has made life unbearable for many small-scale traders whose operating costs continue to rise.
Green grocery trader Kawiria Agnes attributed the crisis to excessive rains that may have destroyed crops in farms, resulting in low supply.
She also blamed poor road infrastructure leading to farming areas, saying transporters fear their vehicles could get stuck in muddy roads, making it difficult to deliver produce to markets.
“If the government supports farmers with better agricultural training and improves roads to farming areas, future shortages can be avoided,” she said.
Vegetable dealer Baba Baro, who sources produce directly from farms, said many farmers may have abandoned tomato farming after suffering losses due to low returns in previous seasons and rising production costs.
“The farms are almost empty. Farmers are discouraged because fertiliser, seedlings and transport costs are very high,” he said.
He called on the government to subsidise farm inputs and crack down on brokers accused of inflating prices of fertiliser and seedlings.
The traders now fear that unless urgent interventions are put in place, the continued shortage and high prices of tomatoes could further worsen the cost of living for both businesses and consumers.
by Kamanja Maeria
