The prices of garri, an essential staple food, and tomatoes have notably declined in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu, providing some relief to numerous households in these states.
A recent survey in prominent markets in Awka, Anambra State, revealed that a bag of garri is now priced at ₦75,000, down from ₦90,000 in June.
Additionally, the cost of a basket of tomatoes, which was ₦100,000 in June, has decreased to between ₦80,000 and ₦85,000.
Naturenex understands that the price of a paint bucket of tomatoes in the region has also fallen from ₦12,000 in June to a range of ₦6,000 to ₦7,000.
In a similar trend, the price of a bag of chilli pepper has dropped from ₦120,000 to ₦60,000, while a paint bucket that previously sold for ₦8,000 is now available for ₦3,500.
The cost of a paint bucket of Cayenne pepper, known locally as Sombo, has decreased from ₦15,000 to ₦10,000. Moreover, a paint bucket of crayfish, priced at ₦6,500, is now available for ₦5,000.
Currently, a bag of onions sells for ₦110,000, down from ₦130,000 in June. The price of a bag of potatoes has also been reduced from ₦18,000 to ₦13,000.
A tuber of new yam is now priced between ₦3,000 and ₦5,000, depending on its size, whereas similar sizes were sold for between ₦2,000 and ₦5,000 per tuber in June.
The PUNCH quoted a foodstuff vendor, Chinenye Uba, to have attributed the decrease in prices of yam, potatoes, tomatoes, pepper, and onions to the ongoing harvest season.
She noted that the prices of other food items, such as beans and rice, remain elevated in the market.
A 50-kg bag of beans, priced at ₦240,000 in June, is now selling for ₦260,000.
Uba explained that the high transportation costs significantly contribute to the elevated prices of foodstuffs, as many are sourced from other states.
“I believe that if the Federal Government can reduce the price of fuel, prices of food items will also come down,” the foodstuff vendor said.
Also, a farmer who identified himself as Godwin Mbadugha, attributed the gradual decrease in the prices of foodstuffs to seasonal variations.
“Many food items are being harvested during this period, so, when there is an increase in supply, prices will likely reduce.
“Farmers return to farms during the rainy season, which is when we usually experience a hike in prices but during the harvest period, prices come down,” Mbadugha said.
Foodstuff Price In Ebonyi State
A market survey in Ebonyi revealed the cost of food items continues to rise in Abakaliki, the state capital.
A paint bucket of iron beans was observed to be priced between ₦9,500 and ₦10,500.
The price for a 100-kg bag of beans can reach ₦225,000, ₦205,000, or ₦180,000, depending on the variety.
It was also reported that the only price decrease has been observed in garri, a staple food for many families.
Dealer Jacob Ngwu indicated that a bag of garri sells for between ₦24,000 and ₦28,000, based on its grade and colour.
This marks a decrease from the previous price range of ₦35,000 to ₦40,000 per bag in June.
“A paint bucket of the commodity is sold between N1,800 and N2,500,” Ngwu said.
The price of “local foreign” rice has remained high, as a 25-kg bag goes for between ₦29,500 and ₦36,000, depending on the grade.
The same thing applies to yam, which has yet to record any decrease in price in the state because the new yam festival has not been performed.
A yam dealer, Mr Steve Okoh, told reporters that a tuber of old yam still sells for as high as ₦3,000, ₦5,000 and ₦10,000, depending on its size.
“The Izzi clan, which is Abakaliki, the state capital, has yet to celebrate its new yam festival.
“This makes it difficult for us to bring new yam to any market in the state.
“You cannot sell new yam in any of the markets in Izzi land until the new yam festival has been celebrated,” Okoh said.
Some stakeholders in agricultural sub-sectors in the state said that the continued rise in the price of food items remained worrisome to many households.
Foodstuff Price in Enugu
Meanwhile, in Enugu State, there has been a notable decrease in the prices of garri, new yams, tomatoes, and onions.
According to Nkiruka Chukwu, a retailer at the New Market in Enugu, the price of a 100-kg bag of white garri has decreased from ₦134,400 to ₦105,000.
Chukwu also mentioned that the cost of a 100-kg bag of yellow garri, which was previously priced between ₦168,000 and ₦160,000, has now been reduced to ₦142,000 and ₦147,000, respectively.
Additionally, Adamu Musa, a dealer in onions and tomatoes, reported that the price of a bag of onions has fallen from ₦85,000 to ₦80,000.
In contrast, a basket of fresh tomatoes, which was once sold for ₦60,000, is now available for ₦50,000.
