Yam dealers attribute price increase to planting season, transportation Some yam dealers in major markets in Enugu metropolis have attributed the increase in price of the commodity to the late commencement of the cropping season and cost of transportation. A market survey in some major markets showed that there was a significant increase in the […]
Yam dealers attribute price increase to planting season, transportation
Some yam dealers in major markets in Enugu metropolis have attributed the increase in price of the commodity to the late commencement of the cropping season and cost of transportation.
A market survey in some major markets showed that there was a significant increase in the prices of yam.
Yam is one of the popular staple foods widely consumed by Nigerians and a preferred source of carbohydrate for many people.
Some yam dealers, in separate interviews that the increase was an annual occurrence at this time of the year as most food produce such as yam were scarce during the planting season, thereby increasing the market price.
Mr Innocent Egbo, a yam dealer at Akwata market said that yams were always expensive during planting season as farmers were always busy planting the commodity so they could harvest at the right time.
“Apart from the planting season, yam at this period of the year is dry and hard because its water content tends to reduce drastically, shrinking in size.
“So when such yam is sold to customers at a normal price, it looks expensive to them.
“Because of the increase, a heap of 100 tubers of big yams that sold for N30, 000 before is now sold for between N45, 000 and N48, 000, while 100 pieces of extra-large tubers sold for N45, 000 before, now goes for N50, 000,“ he said.
Mrs Josephine Onwubualili, another yam dealer at Garki market along Agbani Road, Enugu said a tuber of medium size yam goes for between N400 and N450 as against its previous price of between N300 and N380.
Onwubualili said that a smaller size, which was formally sold for between N120, 000 and N150, 000 now goes for between N250, 000 and N280, 000.
However, both dealers noted that besides the planting season, transportation also contributed to the high cost of yam as most yam tubers were brought from the northern parts of the country.
Mr Ruben Uka, a transporter attributed the rise in the price to the additional costs traders paid for transportation.
“Because we get most of the yams we sell from Benue, Taraba and other parts of the North, we find it difficult to pay the drivers.
“Drivers often complain of bad roads and other taxes they pay before they can get to Enugu,” Uka said.
Miss Mary Orji, a dealer in Mayor Market said the bad roads in the country was the major cause of increase in the prices of food items due to high cost of transportation.
Orji said that she paid N8, 000 for transporting of 100 tubers of medium size of yam from Onitsha to Enugu because of the bad roads.
Source: NAN
Photo Credit: Google
