Economic-Review-of-Agriculture_2015-6

2012 2013 2014
Class/Group Commodity Package Kg
Horticulture Limes net 13 694 696 740
Pineapples Dozen 13 728 760 731
Pawpaw Large Box 54 1,468 1,531 1,490
Avocado Bag 90 1,876 2,283 2,105
Kales Bag 50 1,079 1,107 925
Others Eggs Tray 288 300 312
Source: SDA
Table 6.10: Retail Prices for Selected Crops (KShs/Kg)
Year Maize Finger
Millet
Sorghum Beans Potatoes Cabbages Tomatoes Bananas Sukuma
wiki
2010 21.07 57.87 35.55 59.89 18.97 16.47 44.64 26.87 26.17
2011 39.27 69.11 48.09 75.83 29.42 21.68 48.95 37.18 30.12
2012 42.96 73.05 57.13 78.03 36.36 29.71 51.46 39.26 33.15
2013 36.83 76.42 50.97 71.81 31.15 27.57 58.22 37.77 35.89
2014 38.60 79.60 56.04 76.82 30.90 23.99 63.22 39.51 35.52
Source: KNBS
6.2 Fisheries Inputs
6.2.1 Fishing Crafts and Gears
In 2014 there were a total of 18,520 fishing crafts country wide distributed as follows: lake Victoria 13,402; Marine
artisanal 2,913; lake Turkana 1,650; Tana river dams 180, lake Kanyaboli 99; Tana river delta 93; lake Naivasha 50; lake
Baringo 47; lake Jipe 46 and lake Kenyatta 40. The prices of net gears such as gill nets, small seines depend on the plier
that is the strength of the thread. For hooks the prices depend on the hook size and the material the hook is made of.
Prices of gill nets or small seine nets when mounted range from Kshs 4,500 – 7,500 for 100 metres net while hooks
prices range from Kshs 200 – 250 per packet with 100 hooks.
6.2.2 Fish Feeds
Currently the price of fish feeds ranges from Kshs 80 – 120 per kg depending on the crude protein level. The higher
the crude protein levels the higher the price. The combined effect of poor quality and high costs results in low
productivity. Some fish farmers cluster groups have resulted to bulk manufacturing of fish feeds hence enjoying the
economies of scale. Technical officers have been training the farmers on formulations of homemade fish feed rations.
The national government in an attempt to ensure access to affordable and quality fish feeds, provided cottage fish
feed pelletizing machines to cluster groups in the Country.
6.2.3 Fish Seeds
In Kenya aquaculture’s contribution has in the recent years began to increase and is expected to continue to rise. The
rapid growth of aquaculture has seen a great deal of increased requirement for large volumes of fish seed. Current
national seed requirements stand at 100,000,000 fish seed per year. The Ministry has facilitated upgrading of Sagana
Culture Farm into a National Research & Training Centre with a holding capacity of over 200,000 brood-stocks. It has
trained and authenticated over 100 hatchery operators to produce high quality fish seeds to meet the demand. A
national seed certification programme has been developed.
The price of fingerlings varies depending on size and sex. For example tilapia mixed sex of 5 cm costs Kshs. 8, while 10
cm was Kshs. 10, monosex (all males) 5 cm Kshs. 10 and 10 cm was Kshs. 15. On the other hand catfish of 5 cm costed
Kshs. 10 while the 10 cm was at Kshs. 20.
Economic Review of Agriculture [ERA] 2015 50