By Levy Simiyu and Grace Micheni
The recent increase in supply of fresh produce and cereals at Gakoromone market has led to a significant decline in the prices of these commodities.
The high rainfall experienced in the region in the recent days has led to an increase in production and supply of the fresh produce thus a decline in prices of the commodities.
For instance, the price of tomatoes three months ago was Sh80 per kilogram, but is now retailing at sh60 per kg.
Some of the fresh produce in the market include oranges, apples, passion, tomatoes, ripen banana and onions among others. One of the vendors noted that the prices change with change in seasons and supply.
The prices of these commodities are constant throughout Gakoromone market just like those of cereals sold by different traders.
Catherine Mutua, a cereal vendor in the market, noted that due to high prices of the commodities at the source they have been forced to increase the prices so as to make profit.
She anticipates the product prices to come down in the next 2 to 3 months as most farmers in the country will have harvested thus making the produce to be plenty in the market.
“Maize is the most demanded cereal in the market with its prices ranging from Ksh80 -100 per kg. beans and ndengu are relatively highly demanded while sorghum and millet have the lowest demand,” Mutua said.
Consumers have expressed mixed feelings with most of them saying they were comfortable with prices of these commodities while others thought they were too high John Murithi, a regular consumer at the market, welcomed the reduction of prices of fresh produce but wished that those of cereals would drop.
This is also a concern among other consumers who in these tough economic times who have to dig deeper into their pockets.
