Tanzania: Onion farmers regret price drop due to lack of buyers

Onion farmers in Karatu district, Arusha region, are struggling with the drastic drop in producer prices for their onions. The crop is now selling for Sh50,000 (€20.72) per bag, compared to Sh180,000 to Sh200,000 (€74.59 to €82.88) a few months ago. The district agriculture official attributes the shocking fall in farmer prices to a drop in buyers from Kenya, the area's main onion market. “This is in stark contrast to the situation during the rainy season when Karatu is flooded with buyers from Kenya,” he said. During those periods, buyers from Kenya line up to buy the product, which is not only consumed there, but also exported overseas. Onion cultivation in ...