There is no significant drop in the prices of foodstuff in Taraba State, despite the ongoing harvest of crops, our correspondent in the state reports.
Findings revealed that farmers started harvesting crops in most parts of the state early July, but that has not made prices of foodstuff to drop as witnessed during past harvest periods.
Crops harvested by farmers include; yam, cassava, sweet potato, maize, groundnut, millet, Irish potato, melon seeds and sesame.
Findings revealed that a 100 kg bag of newly harvested groundnut is sold at N60,000, while the same bag was sold at N30,000 during the same period last year.
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A measure of groundnut is now sold at N1500 as against N500 sold during this period last year. Similarly, yam is very expensive now compared to last year.
A big tuber of yam now cost between N4,000 to N4,300 in the market despite the harvest of yam which started early last month.
Findings show that the same tuber of yam which is sold at N4,000 was sold at about N2,000 last year during this period.
It was learnt that yam farmers did not witness bumper harvest this year as a result of severe heat which destroyed their seeds.
A farmer, Musa Pantisawa, told Weekend Trust that there is poor harvest of yam this year as a result of severe heat which prevented yam seeds planted from germinating.
He said farmers are witnessing poor harvest compared to last year, adding that there is going to be scarcity of yam which will result in high price in the state.
A yam trader, Bello Haruna, told Weekend Trust that farmers in yam producing areas in Mumuye community are witnessing poor harvest and that was why there are few tubers of yam in the rural areas where they usually buy from.
Bello Haruna stated further that the price of yam this harvesting period tripled from last year, adding that cost of transportation also contributed to the development.
Similarly, prices of newly harvested maize, cassava, melon seeds and sesame, are high.
Findings showed that 100 kg bag of maize is sold at N54,000, but last year, a bag of newly harvested maize was sold at N29,000.
Findings also revealed that there are many middle men from other states visiting Taraba, to purchase farm produce.
“There are many people coming from other states into Taraba rural markets to buy food items and that is one of the factors responsible for the high prices,” he said.
Farmers interviewed attributed the high price of newly harvested crops to cost of farm inputs and labour.
Buba Adamu, a large-scale farmer at Maihula, said a litre of weed chemical sold during last year’s farming season at N 1900 was sold this year at N6000.
He said price of pesticides, fertilizer, seeds and cost of tractor hiring almost tripled this year.
He said apart from this, there was not enough rain in most parts of the state, resulting in delay of harvest.
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