Public worry is being raised by the nation’s rising food prices, which are generating headlines.
Consumer food prices grew moderately, according to data from the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) Agricultural Sector Survey, which was carried out between May 9 and May 12.
The purpose of the survey was to determine what factors affected the commodities prices that market vendors across the nation offered.
In addition to the already excessive prices that customers in many places have lately experienced, the survey predicts that prices for sugar, bread, eggs, rice, and cooking oil would rise in the coming months.
The retail pricing analysis between March and May 2023 also found that the price of various essential agricultural products had decreased.
Due to the prolonged rains that started in March, vegetable prices fell in May.
For instance, tomato growers in Gilgil and Naivasha reported a sharp rise in supply from Subukia’s primary source markets, which led to a sharp decline in prices.
However, the price of corn was unchanging in May 2023.
The survey, which employed the balance of opinion method, found that, similarly to the surveys conducted in January and March 2023, transportation costs, input prices, and weather conditions had an impact on both retail and wholesale prices in May 2023, with transportation costs having the greatest impact as a result of the elimination of fuel subsidies.
Due to the consequences of the prolonged dry weather, the price of various varieties of rice, beans, potatoes, sugar, and wheat remained high.
Due to a shortage in the sugar belt, sugar prices jumped sharply, and milk prices also surged sharply as a result of higher feed and shipping expenses.
Due to the low yield of the current harvest in Mwea, rice prices have not benefited greatly.