Kiambu: The impact of the Iranian war is fast trickling into households in Kenya after prices of basic produce in the local markets sharply increased beyond their purchasing power.
According to Kenya News Agency, a spot check paints a gloomy picture as prices of produce like tomatoes, onions, and other vegetables skyrocketed threefold since the government announced an increase in fuel prices attributed to the war in the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime artery for the shipment of crude oil in Iran.
So dire is the situation that many families can no longer pay for once affordable commodities whose prices have gone beyond their financial reach, leaving customers wondering what was causing the sudden change of prices.
However, traders in Kiambu markets revealed that the drastic shortage of produce began a few weeks ago after most transport vehicles opted out of their supply operations due to fuel costs and acute shortage of the commodity in some petrol stations.
Transporters expressed fears that most opted out after recording heavy losses due to high fuel prices at the pumps linked to the Iran war that led to the blockade of the maritime channel key to the supply of oil across the globe.
Because of the shortage, many farmers and traders were unable to transport tomatoes from farms to markets on time. Since tomatoes are highly perishable, a large amount of produce ended up spoiling before reaching customers.
Mary Wanjiru, a tomato seller in Kiambu market, said the situation affected many traders. ‘Most tomatoes spoiled before they reached us because vehicles were delayed on the road or could not travel due to lack of fuel,’ she explained. ‘Right now, the few tomatoes remaining are being sold at higher prices because supply is low.’
According to traders, sellers who had refrigerators or proper storage facilities managed to preserve some of their tomatoes. However, many small-scale farmers and traders could not afford cold storage, leading to huge losses.
As a result, the number of tomatoes in the market reduced sharply. With demand remaining high and supply becoming low, prices automatically increased.
Customers have also expressed frustration over the rising costs. Jane Njeri, a mother of three, said buying tomatoes has become difficult for many families.’ Before I could buy enough tomatoes for my family with little money, but now even a few tomatoes are expensive,’ she said. ‘Everything in the market is becoming costly.’
Economists say transport problems often affect food prices because many fresh products depend on quick delivery from farms to markets. When transportation is interrupted, food can spoil, causing shortages in the market.
Traders are now hoping fuel supply will stabilize so that transportation can return to normal and food prices can reduce. Some are also encouraging farmers and sellers to invest in better storage facilities to avoid future losses.
For now, however many Kenyans continue to feel the impact of the tomato shortage, prices remain high in markets across the country.
Source: Kenya News Agency
