Kirinyaga farmers smile all the way to the bank as tomato prices go up

At Kagio Market, the largest tomato trading hub in the county, prices have risen sharply from less than Ksh 500 per box to Ksh 2,500 per box — a nearly fivefold increase. The price of a kasuku (a small box) has also jumped from below Ksh 50 to about Ksh 150.

According to Terry Nyambura, a trader at Kagio Market, the sudden increase is driven by heightened demand from traders arriving from Nairobi and other counties.

“Traders from Nairobi have been buying at Ksh 2,500 per box for the past two market days, unlike in previous weeks when they were purchasing at less than Ksh 500 per box,” Nyambura said.

Muturi, a tomato farmer from Njegas, welcomed the price rise, noting that production costs remain high.

“When tomatoes were selling at Ksh 500 or even Ksh 300, we were operating at a loss,” he said.

Muturi expressed optimism that the current prices will help farmers recover their investments. However, he cautioned that the relief may be short-lived due to the ongoing dry spell affecting production.

“We have only benefited from the higher prices for two market days, and now our stocks are running low,” he said. “If the dry spell continues and water remains scarce, we could see another price spike.”

Tomato farming is a key economic activity in Kirinyaga County, with areas such as Kangai, Njegas, and South Ngariama serving as major production hubs. However, farmers have consistently raised concerns over price volatility, which often leaves them vulnerable to exploitation by middlemen.

“Tomato prices fluctuate a lot, and sometimes we farmers suffer,” said Mr. Gicobi, a farmer from Kangai. “We hope the government will intervene to stabilize prices and support the sector.”

As the dry spell persists, prices are expected to remain high in the short term — providing temporary relief for farmers while highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions to address the sector’s recurring challenges.