Downpour: Kaduna umbrella vendors celebrate, farmers lament

The unusual downpour in Kaduna has brought mixed blessings to residents, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Whereas umbrella sellers in the metropolis say they are experiencing unprecedented boost in sales of their wares, farmers are mourning the losses of their crops damaged by the excessive rainfall.

NAN reports that the month of August recorded the highest rainfall in Kaduna this year, with an average of 11.8 inches.

Mr Yusuf Samari, an umbrella vendor, told NAN that he made at least N5,000 gain daily from sales of umbrellas since the commencement of the season.

He said, “A medium-size umbrella sells from N1,500 to N2, 500, while bigger sizes cost up to N3,000.

“Before the rainy season, umbrellas sold for N800 to N2,500, but the situation is not the same now.

“The cost has risen astronomically this year because rainfall has intensified, thereby raising the demand of umbrellas.”

Also, Haruna Musa, another umbrella vendor, said he usually made more sales from customers who were caught up in traffic on major roads.

He said, “I was making between N1,500 and N3,000 sales every day before the rains started, but now I make not less than N10,000.

“Patronage is higher when vendors hawk on the roads than when we stay at our shops waiting for customers to come.’’

Another umbrella seller, Ibrahim Sadiq, at the Kaduna Central Market, told NAN that although business thrivo during other seasons, more sales were recorded during the rainy season, especially in the month of August.

He said, “During the hot season, customers, especially women, patronise us to shield themselves from the scorching sun, but sales are more during the rainy season.

“Our peak season is the rainy season, and I can make up to N15,000 to N20,000 in a week from the sales of umbrellas.’’

Mrs Deborah Nahum, a civil servant, said she bought umbrellas because they had become “necessity” as a result of the persistent rainfall, especially in August.

She said, “Even vehicle owners need umbrellas because it is not everywhere that can be accessed with a vehicle.’’

However, farmers are mourning substantial quantities of their produce damaged by the excessive rain.

Some of them told NAN that crops that were due for harvest could not be attended to because of the heavy rainfall, and had therefore got damaged.

“We need clear weather and dry atmosphere for harvest of rice and maize that were planted early in May this year.

“They have matured but because of the rainfall, they remain in the farms and have started spoiling”, said Abdullahi Salihu.

Another farmer, Usman Aliya, said even the produce that were harvested and taken home needed the sun to dry before storage.

“It has been raining cats and dogs and most of our harvested produce need to be completely dry before storage, otherwise they will spoil if packaged in sacks for long,” he said. (NAN)