Heavy rains trigger fresh produce shortages and price hikes in Kenya

KENYA – Farmers and consumers in Kenya are bracing for significant shortages and steep price hikes in fresh produce due to the unrelenting rains that have caused widespread destruction in the agriculture-rich areas of Kinungi in Naivasha and Kinangop in Nyandarua county.

The heavy rains currently pounding these regions have wreaked havoc on local farms, with immature crops rotting in the fields.

This situation has led to fears of an impending shortage of fresh produce in major cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa. Stanley Karanja, Naivasha East MCA, highlighted the gravity of the situation.

“This region serves Nairobi and the Coast in terms of fresh produce supply, and with the destruction of the crops, consumers should brace for a shortage and higher prices,” he said.

The area, which supplies over 30 percent of fresh produce consumed in Nairobi and Mombasa, has seen key crops like kale, onions, spinach, and cabbage severely affected. The rains, coupled with flash floods from the neighboring county of Nyandarua, have left a trail of destruction, impoverishing farmers.

Farmers in the region are facing significant financial losses. Zipporah Nyambura, a farmer from Naivasha, lamented the economic impact of the rains.

“Many of us cannot afford to pay school fees due to the losses incurred by the rains, and we are calling on the county government to increase budgetary allocation,” she said. The financial strain on farming families is exacerbated by the loss of income from their damaged crops.

Since March, East Africa has been experiencing severe rainfall and floods, leading to the submersion of thousands of acres of croplands, which poses a threat of a food shortage in the region, as indicated by experts.

The impact on agriculture has been substantial, with Kenya reporting significant losses including at least 9,973 livestock and 41,562 acres of cropland, affecting essential crops such as maize and rice.

The floods have also damaged over 60 roads, disrupting the daily connection between farmers and fresh produce markets.

Furthermore, the contamination of 1,465 clean water sources has been reported, affecting vital aquatic food sources, and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks like malaria.

The flooding crisis has prompted responses from global humanitarian agencies, including the World Food Program, especially as over 26 million people in East Africa were already vulnerable to hunger prior to this crisis.

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