Prices Of Fresh Tomatoes, Pepper, Onion Drop After Eid-el-Kabir Celebrations
LAGOS AUGUST 26TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Prior to Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, prices of fresh tomatoes and pepper which witnessed a significant drop in early August after hitting the roofs between June and July soared again slightly during the celebrations.
But visits to some markets across the state after the Ei-del celebrations revealed that prices of the produce had declined, remaining stable from what they were sold before the celebrations.
According to some of the traders, prices of fresh tomatoes, pepper and tatashe, appeared to be more favourable despite being in its season of scarcity.
They, however, connected the situation to the influx of fresh tomatoes from neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Cameroun, South-West and Zaria.
But prices of produce like onions which started skyrocketing before the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations were affected adversely as they increased further to the dismay of sellers and buyers.
For example, a 100kg bag of onions escalated further to between N25,000 and N28,000 in most of the markets visited from N17,000 sold earlier. The new ones currently range from N15,000 to N20,000 up from N10,000 sold previously owing to off-season effect.
That of livestock such as rams and goat was also not encouraging due to the exorbitant prices.
The situation left some Muslims faithful dejected especially those who used to purchase one, since it is a period of sacrifice but could no longer afford to do so.
For example, prices of medium size rams or sheep in some of the markets visited went up by over 50 per cent, ranging from N80,000 to N120,000 up from between N50,000 and N80,000 sold previously.
Many of the traders ascribed the ridiculous prices of livestock to farmers and herders clash and the tough economic situation of the country.
During the week, checks at the Wuse Market, Abuja showed that prices of a big basket of tomatoes sold for between N11,500 and N12,000 a fortnight ago declined to between N10,000 and N10,500 while that of fresh pepper currently goes from between N11,500 and N12,000 down from N14,000 sold previously.
That of Central Market, Kaduna, that slightly increased to N11,500 from N10,500 sold before the Sallah celebrations dropped to between N10,500 and N11,000 during the review week.
Mallam Kabiri who trades in fresh tomatoes and pepper connected the decline to availability and increased supply from neighbouring countries like Cameroun and Ghana.
At the Ogbeogologo Market, Asaba, prices of the produce especially that of fresh tomatoes witnessed a downward trend, reducing from N16,000 sold previously to between N14,000 and N15,000 of which many of the traders attributed to the availability of imported fresh tomatoes from other countries despite not being in its season of abundance.
Similarly, that of fresh pepper previously sold for between N15,000 and N16,000 reduced to between N13,500 and N14,000.
The same could be said for that of Ose market, Onitsha, as a basket of fresh tomatoes sold earlier for between N15,000 and N16,000 declined to between N13,500 and N14,000 as at August 24, 2018. That of fresh pepper which previously attracted N15,000 dropped to N13,000 during the week.
Mrs. Comfort Hussein, who retails the produce at the Ogbeogologo Market, Asaba, opined that improved supply and low demand were responsible for the favourable prices of fresh tomatoes.
But for that of fresh pepper, she said the drop was not significant owing to the fact that, fresh pepper in the markets emanates from Edo State, which is quite close to Delta State.
Checks at the Oba and New Benin markets, Benin City, indicated that the price of a basket of fresh tomatoes dropped to N13,000 after the Ei-del Kabir celebrations from N15,000 sold initially. That of fresh pepper, however, still remained unchanged at between N10,000 and N10,500.
The situation was not different from that of the King’s Market, Ado-Ekiti, as a basket of fresh tomatoes sold for N15,000 declined to between N13,000 and N14,000 depending on the size and the bargaining power of the customer.
Likewise, that of a bag of fresh pepper sold formerly for N10,000 decreased to between N8,000 and N8,500, a situation which many of the traders and buyers are happy about as they connected it to improved supply and gradual onset of its season of plenty.
At the Bodija Market, Ibadan, prices of the product maintained a favourable trend when compared previously. For example, a basket of fresh tomatoes that was initially sold for between N12,500 and N14,000 dropped, currently to N12,000 and N13,000 depending on the size of the basket and the haggling power of the buyer.
Similarly, that of pepper also fell to N10,000 from N12,000 sold before.
Mr. Afolabi Alao, who sells the produce at the Bodija market, Ibadan, said it was a good omen as the situation had enabled most of the traders to up their purchases.
He, however, linked the drop to availability arising from adequate supply from other neighbouring countries such as Ghana, stressing that this is not the season of harvest for the produce in Nigeria.
For that of Lagos, visits to popular Mile 12 and Ile-Epo markets, revealed that prices of fresh tomatoes were at a downward trend.
But during the Eid-el Kabir celebrations, prices of the produce soared due to a shortfall in supply.
The situation, however, changed today, August 23, 2018, as visit showed that the number of trucks offloading the produce increased and this had a positive effect on the prices.
For example, a basket of tomatoes that previously attracted between N14,000 and N16,000 fell to between N12,000 and N13,500 depending on the size of the basket.
That of fresh pepper was also encouraging, falling to between N10,000 and N11,000 from N17,000 sold previously.
Many of the traders interviewed ascribed the pleasant situation to availability and increased supply.
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Posted by News Rangers
on Aug 26 2018. Filed under National.
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