Food traders in Kisumu have abandoned local produce in favour of imports, saying the former is profitless.
The traders, who are now shipping commodities from neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania, said high production costs across the country discouraged them from stocking local products.
They said getting fresh produce from outside the country was up to 50 percent less costly than getting the same from agricultural counties across Kenya and are still able to maximise profits by retailing them at prevailing market prices.
A quick check in the town revealed that imports into Kisumu from other counties have significantly gone down in favour of cheap alternatives from the two neighbouring countries. This situation was also reflected across other western Kenya counties where production is low.
Kisumu imports over 80 percent of the commodities it consumes, according to statistics.
A 90kg of maize from Uganda is bought at half the country’s retail prices of Sh3,000 but retails at only Sh5 less for 2kg across western Kenya markets.
Rice grown at Ahero Irrigation Scheme within the county has lost market to imports from Tanzania which the traders say outclass local produce by quality.
Although the locally grown variety fetches higher purchase prices at Sh75 per kilo, its demand is lower hence reduced retail price.
The Tanzanian 'pishori' variety with purchasing price ranging between Sh60 and Sh68 a kilo is sold at over Sh250 for every 2kg against Ahero grown retailing at Sh200.
Rice is third staple grain in the country after maize and wheat with local production estimated at between 35,000 and 50,000 metric tones while consumption is estimated to be between 180,000 and 250,000 metric tones.
Groundnuts from Uganda are Sh50 cheaper per kilo at Sh200 and have higher preference according to Christine Atieno a trader at Jubilee Market.
Several beans varieties formerly sought from Rift Valley counties cost 50 per cent less at the border but retail at higher than local counterparts by between Sh4 and Sh15 per two kilograms.
The lakeside traders said even fish which is the major revenue earner in the region had received a knock against Ugandan imports.