Potato growers and traders in Nakuru have raised concerns over a law recently passed by the county assembly effecting harmonisation of packaging weight of potatoes.

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A section of farmers claim the potatoes market should remain a free where buyers and sellers agree on prices and weight depending on season instead of putting up legislation and ‘archaic laws’ in the potato market.

James Mwangi, a large scale potato farmer, maintained that the stiff penalties being imposed on brokers trading the produce on bags exceeding 110 kilogrammes will have a negative impact on farmers, saying buyers will shun the market.

He said that currently, farmers are counting loses due to taxes imposed on potato buyers and transporters by the county government - a move he claimed has forced traders to buy the produce at low prices for fear of making losses.

“Farmers are the ones catering for the transportation of potatoes and fees paid to county government,” the farmer said, adding: “That is why traders are buying potato at throw away prices.”

The farmers want other potato-growing counties to reject the bid to control the potato market, saying stakeholders were not directly involved in drafting the motion on standardisation of potato packaging in Nakuru County. 

The legislation, which was driven by Nyota ward MCA Njuguna Gicamu, provides that those found flouting the regulation will spend six months in prison or pay Sh10,000 fine.

Such clauses have been condemned by potato growers in Molo, Kuresoi North, Kuresoi South Njoro, and Rongai sub-counties. The stakeholders are calling on other potato-growing counties to reject attempts to influence or control potato market.