Prices of potatoes, tomatoes drop in Bauchi markets as rice, yam skyrocket despite harvest season
Story by Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
Despite the harvest period setting in, prices of some major food items are skyrocketing across major markets in the 20 local Government Areas of Bauchi State.
A market survey on the prices of grains, staple foods and other basic necessities conducted by Neptune Prime across Misau and Azare towns indicated that food prices are higher in August than what was obtained in June and July 2024.
In Bauchi Central Market, a bag of 50kg local rice which sold between N77,000 and N80,000 two months ago, now goes for N85,000 and N90,000, while a bag of 100 kg of beans which sold for N140,000 is now N180,000.
Guinea corn which is another staple food in Bauchi, now goes for N104,000 for a 100kg bag as against N80,000 two months ago.
Deputy Chairman of Bauchi traders and Artisan Association Alhaji Yahaya Umar Abubakar told Neptune Prime that a big carton of spaghetti and Macaroni sold for N13,500 – N15,000 two months ago, now goes for N18,000 – N20,000.
Secretary of the Association added that the prices of meat has equally increased, bringing a kilo of meat which cost N2500 two months ago to N4000 – N5000.
In Azare market, a sack of maize sold at N80, 000 now N92, 000, beans sack before now was N140, 000 is now been sold at N180, 000, guinea corn before now was N64, 000 now goes for N104, 000 and local rice that was N132, 000 is now N172, 000.
Similarly, millet before was N64, 000 now sells at N104, 000.
Other common food items like spaghetti which used to be N15, 200 per carton now goes for N 20, 000, macaroni which was sold for N16, 000 now goes for N20,500, and a single pack of cous cous of N900 is now N 1,500.
Traders in the markets associated the increase with the removal of petroleum subsidy and high tax imposed by the government on production companies.
A lecturer at the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Abdullahi Yusufa advised the government to put in mechanisms that would control the prices of essential commodities to ensure access and affordability for the citizenry.
However the prices of perishable foodstuffs have reduced in Bauchi South, Bauchi Central, Bauchi North Senatorial Districts as harvests commence.
The prices of perishable goods like tomatoes, okro , pepper, onions have drastically reduced in seven local Government Areas of Bauchi South and six local government areas of Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
Many traders in the markets told this newspaper that the prices reduced because they now received supply from Neighbouring states like Jigawa, Gombe, Benue and Kano States unlike during dry season because they don’t receive supply and the higher the commodities, the lower the price.
“The lower the commodities, the higher the price that is the situation with perishable goods business,” Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, caretaker committee chairman of perishable goods in Bauchi State.
He said the prices have dropped by 50%, 60% or 65% as a big basket of tomatoes which was sold at N100,000 between June and July now cost N40,000, while a small basket previously sold at N80,000 is now going for N30,000.
Similarly, a bag of pepper sold at N170,000 around June, July now cost N80,000, while a bag of short pepper goes for N70,000 as against N85,000 sold in June and July.
Also, a bag of okro which was sold at N50,000 within the period of June July now goes for N25,000.
However, prices of onions have slightly reduced as a bag which cost between N40,000 and N30,000 two months ago is now N35,000, N27,000 or N25,000.
However, in Bauchi North Senatorial District, there is slight difference as a big bag of tomato which was between N60,000 – N70,000 now cost N40,000 and small bag goes for N25,000.
For pepper, a big basket cost 55,000 while the small basket is N45,000. The bag of hot pepper which used to be between N160,000 -180,000, is now N80,000 and N90,000 respectively, while a big sack of onion which was between N90, 000 – N70, 000 is now N80,000 and N40,000.
Some of the tomato sellers in Azare told Neptune Prime in an interview that the price of the product keeps fluctuating because of the rainy season and breakage of link road from Kano to Azare.
Chairman of the union, Yahaya, attributed the drop to the 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.
This newspaper gathered that there is a significant reduction in the price of potatoes as a bag which was sold for N80,000 to N100,000 now cost N50,000 – N40,000.
But the price of Yam keep skyrocketing in many Bauchi markets.
Yam sellers said that two small tubers of yam now cost N3,000 instead of N1500, while three big tubers, now go for N10,000 to N12,000, depending on its size instead of N5000 to N6, 000.
When contacted, the Yam Sellers Leader in the market, Suleyman Saminu, 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.
Proofreading by Gift Luckson, Editor at Neptune Prime.
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