News Investigators/ Prices of tomato and other perishable produce have dropped sharply following increase in fresh supplies to the markets in Bauchi metropolis.
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), at Muda Lawal and Wunti markets on Monday, showed that prices crashed by over 100 per cent in the last three weeks.
A basket of tomato was sold at N15,000, as against its old price of N40,000, and a 100 kilogram bag of pepper was sold at N40,000, as against N170,000, respectively.
Vegetable produce such as spinach, moringa and pumpkin leaves were sold at N100, as against N200 per bunch.
A basket of okra goes for N10,000, as against N19,000, in the last three months.
However, onion prices were on the high side, and a bag was sold at N150,000, as against its previous price of N40,000.
Salisu Dangombe, a tomato dealer, attributed the drop in prices to the bountiful harvest recorded this rainy season.
He said that the high yields recorded by farmers resulted in the increased supply of fresh vegetables to the markets.
Mr Dangombe said that he was also enjoying appreciable patronage due to increase in the demand of the produce occasion by the price crash.
He said that prices of onions were up due to low supply amid growing demand.
Another trader, Habibu Shehu, said that they were experiencing a market glut because many people engaged in vegetable production during the rainy season.
“Prices of perishable produce are normally low during the rainy season because of the increased production and supply,” he said.
Also, Hanatu Musa, a customer, said that the market trend encouraged her to buy a large quantity of tomatoes for her family’s needs.
NAN
