By George Munene
According to an agriculture sector survey conducted by the Central Bank of Kenya, 60 per cent of farmers expect the volume of key food items to increase or remain the same during the next harvest following the introduction of government subsidised low-cost fertiliser in the market and favorable weather conditions.
Over 60 percent of farmers also expect to increase the acreage dedicated to the production of kale, spinach, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, carrots, and beans this farming season owing to improved weather conditions, reduced input prices, and expected rains.
The area dedicated to the production of cabbages and maize is anticipated to increase or remain the same.
Related News: Staple food prices to remain high through 2022
Related News: Steep egg prices to persist until October on maize & soya shortage
Majority of potato, kale, cabbage, beans, and wheat farmers expect agricultural output to either increase or remain the same on account of improved weather conditions and increased acreage per food crop.
Half of the sampled respondents anticipate market supply for October 2022 of tomatoes, onions, and carrots remaining stagnant while the other half predict prices will decrease.
Related News: WFP: Drought, fertiliser prices, & armyworm drop Kenya’s agri production
However, the output for spinach, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and maize was expected to either decrease or remain the same in the next harvest.
The price of potatoes (50kg bag) is predicted to increase by 50 per cent of farmers, with the other 50 per cent of the view that it will remain the same.