Prices of perishable foodstuffs reduce in Yobe, Borno, Adamawa as harvests commence
Story by Jane AISO
Towns in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States are experiencing significant drop in the prices of perishable items like tomatoes, pepper, okro.
According to reports, the prices have dropped by 50% as a big basket of tomatoes which was sold at N120,000 between April and May now cost N40,000, while a small basket previously sold at N75,000 is now going for N18,000.
A bag of pepper sold at N170,000 same period now cost N82,000, while a bag of pepper goes for N70,000 as against N75,000 sold in July. Similarly, a bag of okro which was sold at N50,000 within the period under review, now goes for N25,000.
However, prices of onions have increased as a bag which cost between N28,000 and N30,000 three to four months ago, now rose to N50,000.
The market’s chairman, Muazu Abbas, attributed the drop to arrival of new items in the market.
“Prices of perishable items usually drop whenever harvests are made and new goods arrive in the market, but the prices rise when there is shortage of goods,” he said.
In a similar development, the price of yam has skyrocketed at Bayan Tasha Market in the metropolis.
Reports also revealed that two small tubers of yam sold at N1,500 in 2023, now cost N4,000, while three big tubers that went for N3,500 within the period, now go for N15,000.
When contacted, the Yam Sellers Leader in the market, Habibu Mohammed, blamed the sharp rise on shortage of supply of the items to the market.
He also blamed the hike on an increase in the cost of transporting the items to the market from Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau States.
On his part, Usman Ngari, chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Yobe chapter, expressed concern over the high cost of establishing food crop storage facilities.
Storage facilities preserve crops and increase profit, especially in cultivation of perishable items.
Mr Ngari called on the government at all levels to support farmers with capital to acquire storage facilities to boost their productivity and income levels.
In Borno, the prices of perishable goods are the same as Yobe, but the traders said they are still looking forward to more fall in prices in a few months when farmers will start harvesting tomatoes and other perishables in the state.
In Adamawa, while there was a fall in the prices of perishables due to harvest, that of grains have continued to remain high.
Farmers, traders and consumers are waiting for the harvest season where food items will be in large supplies, consequently having good and affordable prices for the benefit of all.
Proofreading by Gift Luckson, Editor at Neptune Prime.
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