Nakuru farmers cut fruit, vegetables supply as drought bites

The supply of fruit has drastically dropped in most markets across Nakuru County as effects of three months of dry weather bear down on the agriculture-rich region.

A spot check in markets in Njoro, Subukia, Molo, Dundori, Salga and Rongai indicated an acute shortage.

Common fruit such as avocados, oranges, passion fruits, tree tomatoes, bananas, grapes, peas which are normally available during this season have had their prices shoot up drastically owing the shortage.

“We receive about 80 per cent of our fruit supply from Dundori, Bahati, Subukia and Molo but farmers in these regions have almost stopped supplying due to the dry spell hitting the area,” said Mr Geoffrey Gitahi a fruit vendor at Nakuru wholesale market. He said when they get the supply, most customers are unable to buy them due to exorbitant price.

“A piece of avocado is currently going at Sh30 which used to be Sh10 at the wholesale market at the beginning of this year while the smallest bunch of grapes is going at Sh100 in comparison to Sh50 in January,” said Mr Gitahi. Mr Nduhiu Murage a tree tomato farmer from Nyandarua said that he has been forced to cut his supply to the market by half.

“I am weighing between bringing the fruits to Nakuru and selling them at farm gate due to scarcity since I cannot satisfy my clients,” said Mr Murage. He said a kilogramme of the fruit which was selling at Sh80 in January was now going at Sh120.

“Many of my clients are unable to buy the fruits but I have no choice as I cannot reduce the price since I am spending a lot of money buying water to irrigate them at the farm,” said Mr Murage.