Kenyans continue to struggle with the high Cost of onions

Nyeri

Friday, July 28, 2023

KNA by Beth Ndirangu

Kenyans continue to cope with the high cost of onions as traders are hit by a shortage of the commodity in the country.

In Nyeri town, a spot check carried by KNA shows that, onions are now being sold at a cost of 150 per kilo, this according to traders the shortage has been exacerbated by a decline in production by farmers due to high cost of production.

James Wambugu a trader in Nyeri town said they were importing the commodity from Tanzania but it has reduced adding that they relied on Tanzania onions because of its high quality, price and it is well-dried.

Wambugu said Tanzania farmers are selling the onions to Kenya traders from between Sh 110 and Sh 120 per kilogram yet most farmers are heavily dependent on their supply.

“Majority of our customers now are going for spring onions which is cheaper while others are opting to cook food without onions. ’Said Wambugu.

He added that compared to recent months, onion prices have shot up by as much as 87.5 per cent from Sh80 per kilogram in March, depending on the variety of onion.

Another one trader Frederick Kamau from Narumoro, Kieni Constituency said traders are now forced to reduce the stock due to the high cost of the commodity, saying in a day he sells very few kilos.

“Most of us cannot afford to buy quality seedlings because the cost of production does not even match the farm gate price offered to us by brokers,” said Kamau.

He added that growers of the commodity are also growing onions on small parts of their farms, contributing to the shortage.

Kamau added that if only the government can invest in irrigation projects in most parts of the country farmers will grow onions and the shortage of the commodity would be a thing of the past.

Courtesy ; K. N. A