By Uche Amunike
Residents of major towns in Yobe, Adamawa and Bornu states have shown relief at the crash of perishable food prices recently witnessed in the three states, according to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to their report, a survey held at the Perishable Items Market showed that food prices dropped with a margin of 50 percent.
Between the months of April and May, a big basket of tomatoes was sold at N120,000. It is however, presently sold at N40,000, just as the small basket that was previously sold at N75,000 now sells for N18,000.
A bag of Okro, which used to be sold at N50,000 within that period, is now sold for N25,000.
As for pepper, the big bag which was sold for N170,000 within the same period, is now sold for N82,000. The smaller bag which was sold at N75,000 in July, now goes for N70,000.
The prices of onions, however, has not come down as a bag which was sold between N28,000 and N30,000 about three to four months ago has presently skyrocketed to N50,000.
The Chairman of the market, Alhaji Muazu Abbas stated that the reason for the current crash of food prices is the arrival of new food items in the market. His words: ‘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.’
At the Bayan Tasha Market, however, the prices of yam skyrocketed. Two small tubers of yam that used to be sold at N1500 in 2023 is now sold at N4000, while three big tubers that used to be sold for N3500 within that space of time is now sold at N15,000.
The Yam Sellers leader in the market, Alhaji Habibu Mohammed, was contacted and he attributed the increase in price to the shortage of supply of the items to the markets. He also said that the hike on transportation cost of taking the items to the markets from Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Plateau State, brought about the sharp rise on shortage of supplies to the market.
As for the Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Yobe Chapter, Alhaji Usman Ngari, he expressed his worry over the high cost of establishing food crop storage facilities.
His words: ‘Storage facilities preserve crops and increase profit, especially in cultivation of perishable items. Unfortunately, establishing such factories is capital intensive and most of us do not have that kind of money.’
He urged the government at all levels to give farmers their support with the capital to acquire storage facilities, which will help to boost productivity and income levels.
A grain dealer, Mustapha Usman, on his part, explained that prices of grains like maize, local rice, millet and beans are still on the high side and will remain so until harvesting commences in October. Adamawa State has however continued to maintain high prices of these grains, even though they witnessed a slash in prices of perishable foods, due to the harvest.
According to the Chairman of the Nigerian Small Scale Industrialists, Alhaji Aliya Mohammed, a bag of 100kg of maize that was sold for N60,000 last year is now sold at N90,000, just as white beans that was sold for N75,000 now goes for N160,000.
He stated: ‘We just have to wait and watch what will happen when the harvest commences in a few weeks.’
