MERU COUNTY – Traders at the Gakoromone open air market are facing challenges with the shortage and increased prices of farm produce, a situation they attribute to the prolonged October-December rains.

According to Kenya New Agency, Zipporah Mutua, a trader, explained that the price of potatoes and other commodities had risen at the farm level. This increase is a direct result of unfavorable weather conditions during the October-December period, which led to poor harvests and subsequently affected the supply against the existing demand.

Mutua, who has been selling potatoes in bulk to retail traders within and outside Meru County for over ten years, expressed that her current experience is unlike any other she has faced in the past. She noted that the sacks of potatoes she had expected to sell during the December and New Year festivities are still in storage, as business declined sharply after the holiday season.

The trader highlighted the impact of the new school term on her business, stating that she has very few customers visiting her store. Many people, according to Mutua, are prioritizing their finances to cover school-related expenses, such as school fees and provisions, as children return to school.

Mutua also mentioned the rising costs involved in her business. She stated that the expense of purchasing and transporting a sack of potatoes from the farm to the market is nearing Sh5000. This increase in costs makes it challenging to set prices for her customers, who are accustomed to buying a sack of potatoes at a wholesale price of Sh4300.

Countering the assumption that businesses dealing in groceries are thriving in the current economic climate, Mutua pointed out that those selling perishable items like farm produce are particularly vulnerable. Unlike businesses in sectors such as hardware, those in the fresh farm produce industry face a high risk of incurring unpredicted losses due to various factors, including weather conditions.

The situation at the Gakoromone open air market reflects broader challenges faced by traders dealing in perishable goods, particularly in the context of changing weather patterns and their impact on agricultural yield.