''In view of the increased supply during harvest relative to demand, prices can decline to abnormally low levels.
''Conversely, during periods of food shortages caused by factors such as drought or floods, prices tend to increase drastically. Some farmers suggested that a mechanism be put in place to stabilise the prices of farm produce," the report highlighted.
CBK stated that policy recommendations - promoting irrigation to reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture, ensuring affordable, high-quality farm inputs, and sustaining fertiliser subsidies - from previous surveys continue to hold weight.
The survey indicated that 85 per cent of sampled farmers rely on inorganic fertilisers, making it a key input for the agricultural sector.
However, farmers remain concerned about the seasonal nature of production, vulnerable to unpredictable weather.
More than half of the farmers interviewed said they could not access markets or transport their produce when it rained.
"There was a notable increase in farmers reporting poor road infrastructure as a challenge," the report indicated.
Surveys conducted from May to November last year showed that a slightly higher proportion of respondents expected inflation to either remain unchanged or decrease over the next three months compared to those expecting increases.
Farmers were also willing to increase acreage for crops such as kales, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, and beans, though decisions were influenced by factors like weather, seed availability, land preparation costs, expected returns, and crop rotation practices.
"We can easily get out of this food insecurity if we address the underlying issues.
''The agriculture sector is being run down because of corrupt people," Edewa said, adding, "People want to import food because of kickbacks and hoarding."
The expected rise in tomato prices due to seasonal factors, alongside price hikes for other staples like beans, maize, and green grams, points to the ongoing impact of seasonal cycles.
Vegetable oils
Global trends, especially the Russia-Ukraine war, are also expected to push up prices for items like sugar, cooking fat, and vegetable oils.
To address these challenges, the Central Bank of Kenya report suggests several measures, including reducing pesticide and herbicide costs, which are critical for crop health.
Pesticides and herbicides are the second most commonly used inputs after fertilisers, thus contributing significantly to production costs.