This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
Published on July 15, 2020, potato farmers in Nakuru are counting their losses following the Covid-19 pandemic. The low prices of the commodity, coupled with high production costs, have left many farmers struggling to make ends meet.
Regina Wanjiru, a farmer in Mau Narok, expressed her frustration, saying that they are forced to sell their produce to brokers at low prices. A 110-kilogramme bag of potatoes is currently selling between Sh1,700 and Sh2,000, despite their expectations of about Sh3,000.
Ms Wanjiru further stated, "Previously, I could supply 50 bags of potatoes to markets in Eldoret, but after the Covid-19 pandemic, I have nowhere to sell the produce." To avoid total losses, she sells a bag as low as Sh800.
Mugoko Juma, a farmer with a 35-acre farm, is also facing a similar challenge. His crop is ready for harvest, but he is unsure if he should wait until he gets better market. Juma expects to harvest about 80 bags of 50 kilogrammes per acre, with each bag expected to sell at not less than Sh2,400.
Chief Officer of Agriculture Joel Kibet has advised farmers to establish groups to help them get markets with better prices. He also suggested that through groups, they can venture into value addition to cut losses.
