Cabbage shortage hits the market as supply drops

Murang’a,

Tuesday July 9, 2024

KNA by Florence Kinyua

Consumers and traders in Murang’a county are grappling with acute vegetable shortages, just a few weeks after the country experienced heavy rains that left destruction, displacement, crop and livestock loss and deaths in its wake. 

The heavy rainfall experienced from March destroyed crops with some such as carrots, potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables like kale and spinach rotting due to water logging leading to reduced supply of the commodities and increase in the prices of the same.

The scarcity points at a need to study market trends vis a vis changes in climate changes to avoid the extremes of glut and shortage that is often experienced.

 For instance, cabbage which is the most common vegetable and popular in many households due to its affordability has seen an all-time high increase in price from Sh50 to Sh200 for a medium sized piece.  

 At the Kenol’s main market aptly dubbed Wairia’s market, a spot check by KNA revealed that not only have the traders who would previously sell cabbages moved to other businesses but the consumers have also turned to other cabbage alternatives in the kitchen.

  Samuel Maina, a trader at the market notes that the scarcity has forced him to source the cabbages from Eldoret, adding that the sales have significantly reduced as consumers cite high cost of living and opt for other affordable vegetables. 

 “Currently the gate price for a medium sized cabbage is Sh. 70 to Sh. 80 which I’m now selling at Sh.140. Previously the same cabbage would go for Sh.30 gate price and I would sell it at between Sh50 and Sh70,” he says.

“The commodity is also slow moving as I would sell up to 2000 pieces a week and would make two trips to source for it but now I’m making only one trip in a week,” he adds. 

 Sharon Waithera a consumer and mother of three notes that the high price of vegetables has forced her family to consider other alternatives like cereals to accompany the staple meal ugali

 “A kilogramme of spinach is retailing at Sh.120 while that of kales commonly known as sukumawiki is retailing at Sh. 100, traditional vegetables are not available anymore, while one medium sized tomato is going for Sh.10. We have opted to use cereals and sometimes even take tea and ugali,” said Waithera

Previously a kilogram of spinach and kales in the same market retailed at Sh60 and Sh40 respectively.

Courtesy; KNA