Sharp Drop in Perishable Goods Prices in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa as Harvest Season Arrives…..Continue Reading…....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Prices of perishable goods have seen a significant drop across major towns in Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states, according to a report from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The price reductions, which have been observed in markets such as Damaturu’s Perishable Items Market, highlight a nearly 50% decrease in the cost of various perishable items.

In Yobe State, a large basket of tomatoes that previously sold for N120,000 between April and May is now priced at N40,000. Similarly, the price of a small basket has dropped from N75,000 to N18,000. The cost of a bag of pepper has also seen a significant reduction, falling from N170,000 to N82,000. Meanwhile, a bag of okro, which was N50,000 within the same period, now sells for N25,000.

However, the report notes an increase in the price of onions. A bag that used to cost between N28,000 and N30,000 now fetches N50,000, reflecting a noticeable rise.

The chairman of the Perishable Items Market, Alhaji Muazu Abbas, attributed the drop in prices to the arrival of new harvests. “Prices of perishable items usually drop whenever harvests are made and new goods arrive in the market, but the prices rise when there is a shortage of goods,” Abbas explained.

Despite the overall decrease in prices, yam prices have soared at the Bayan Tasha Market in Yobe. The cost of two small tubers of yam, which sold for N1,500 in 2023, has now escalated to N4,000. Similarly, the price of three large tubers has surged from N3,500 to N15,000. The Yam Sellers Leader, Alhaji Habibu Mohammed, attributed this sharp rise to the scarcity of yams and the increased cost of transportation from states like Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau.

In addition to the fluctuations in perishable items, the cost of grains remains high across these regions. In Borno, traders expressed hope for further price reductions in the coming months as local harvests begin. Isa Mohammed, a vegetable dealer in Maiduguri, stated that current supplies are mainly from Kaduna and Kano, but prices could drop once local harvesting of perishables commences.

Similarly, in Adamawa, while the prices of perishable goods have fallen due to ongoing harvests, the cost of grains remains elevated. Mustapha Usman, a grain dealer in Borno, noted that prices for locally produced grains such as rice, beans, maize, and millet will likely decrease when the harvest begins in October.

The Chairman of the Adamawa Chapter of the Nigeria Small Scale Industrialists, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, highlighted the continuing rise in grain prices. A 100kg bag of maize, which sold for N60,000 last year, now costs N90,000, while the price of white beans has doubled from N75,000 to N160,000.

The chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Yobe Chapter, Alhaji Usman Ngari, stressed the importance of establishing food crop storage facilities to preserve crops and boost profits. He urged the government to support farmers financially in acquiring these facilities to enhance productivity and income levels.

As the harvest season progresses, consumers and traders alike are keenly watching market trends, hoping for further price adjustments that could ease the economic burden on households across the region.