Heavy Rainfall in Meru County Causes Significant Losses for Onion Traders

Meru, Kenya – Onion traders in Meru County are facing substantial financial losses due to the adverse effects of persistent heavy rainfall on their produce. The excessive moisture has led to the rotting of onions, severely impacting the local agricultural market.

According to Kenya News Agency, Traders at Gakoromone market, one of the main trading hubs in the region, report that the continuous downpours have soaked mature onions in farms, making them prone to rapid decay. In addition, the poor condition of roads has delayed transportation of the onions to market areas accessible by vehicles. By the time the onions reach the market, many are found to be rotten or have sprouted shoots.

Paul Kabeabea, a trader at Gakoromone market, explained the extensive process they undergo to salvage what they can from the affected produce. They sort out the rotten onions, cut the grown shoots, and dry them before they can be sold to customers. The additional transportation costs, first via carts through the bad roads and then by vehicles to the market, further escalate the expenses for traders.

Due to these challenges, onion traders like Kabeabea are compelled to dispose of the spoiled onions and sell the remaining produce at significantly reduced prices. The current selling prices have dropped drastically, with grade one onions now going for Sh120 per kilogram and grade two onions at Sh90 per kilogram, a steep decline from their previous prices of Sh200 and Sh150, respectively.

Lucy Karimi, another trader, highlighted the difficulty in drying the onions amidst the rainy and chilly weather. The delays in delivery and the inability to meet market demands satisfactorily have exacerbated the situation. The continuous rainfall has also hindered timely harvesting on the farms, leading to further delays in delivery.

Customers like Cynthia Miriti are feeling the impact of these challenges. Miriti has called on the government to improve infrastructure, particularly the construction of better routes from farms to main roads, to ensure timely and efficient delivery of produce in good condition.

The situation in Meru County underscores the vulnerability of agricultural trade to climatic conditions and the need for improved infrastructure to mitigate such impacts.