Prices of vegetables in Kano markets have dropped significantly following increased supply of fresh produce by farmers in the state.
A market survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in vegetable markets within the metropolitan area shows that the items affected by the reduction include tomatoes, pepper, and hot pepper.
The prices started dropping over the past two weeks in major vegetable markets such as Yankaba, Gwarzo Road, and other locations within the metropolis.
The survey reveals that the price of a small basket of tomatoes had fallen to ₦4,000 from ₦10,000 previously, representing a 60 per cent decline.
Similarly, pepper now sells for ₦4,000 per small basket, compared with ₦9,000 previously, representing a 55.6 per cent reduction.
The survey further shows that hot pepper, locally known as ‘attarugu’ dropped from ₦10,000 to ₦4,000, representing a 60 per cent reduction.
One of the traders interviewed, Malam Musa Isyaku, said prices were expected to continue falling until the end of the rainy season as more vegetables would be brought to the markets.
He, however, identified inadequate storage facilities as a major challenge facing vegetable traders, particularly tomato sellers.
According to him, tomatoes often get spoilt due to heat, rainfall, and changes in weather conditions, resulting in losses.
He appealed to the government to provide adequate storage facilities and urged private companies to invest in small-scale vegetable storage and processing facilities.
Malam Isyaku Nafi’u said such facilities would help preserve vegetables, reduce losses, and create opportunities for processing and exporting the produce to neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, some of the consumers interviewed expressed satisfaction with the falling in prices.
Malam Salihu Abdullahi said he previously spent about ₦3,000 to buy vegetables for preparing soup, but could now get what he needed for about ₦1,000.
He described the development as encouraging and expressed hope that prices would continue to go down.
Another consumer, Malama Zainab Sani, who was buying vegetables for her household, said the previous high prices had made it difficult for her to buy tomatoes.
“With the new development, I now spend as little as ₦500 and take home a large quantity of vegetables,” Zainab said, expressing hope that prices would continue to fall.
NAN reports that the vegetable markets are now crowded with consumers who are rushing to take advantage of the lower prices.
