JUST recently, at Mile 12, arguably the largest produce market in Lagos, the section that stocks tomato and yams was a shadow of itself. Baskets of tomato and heaps of yams were few and buyers everywhere, chasing after the goods. The search and bargain for onions was no less exerting.
That scenario alone drives home the economic principle that with so many people chasing after few items, the law of demand and supply takes its normal course; prices skyrocket. And this has been the pain of average man on the street – how to makes ends meet.
At peak harvest season sales, you could find a pin unable to make it to the ground because of the traffic of buyers, and sellers too. Every one jostles to make the best of bargain even at the risk of the discomforting environment; people sandwiched between huge trucks that bring the produce from the northern part of the country.
Mr. Hassan Lawal, a tomato wholesaler said the increase in price of pepper and tomato is due to the rain that adversely affected the farms.
“Last year, a basket sold for N1,500 but in January, it was sold for between N2,000 to N2,500. Now, I sell a basket for N15,000 though depending on the size of basket. A smaller basket is sold for N13,000.
He also revealed that tomato from the southwest is available in the market and cheaper than the specie from the North. He said that the Hausa tomato is the preferred one because of its thickness and rich red colour.
According to him, when there is an increase in the supply of tomato from the Southwest and Ghana, it forces down the price generally.
At Agege market the price of foodstuff is not different from that of Mile 12 except for groundnut and palm oil…..
Copyright, Blaise APLOGAN, 2010,© Bienvenu sur Babilown
Toute republication de cet article doit en mentionner et l’origine et l’auteur sous peine d’infraction
Commentaires