Flooding: Food prices in Kaduna markets skyrocket

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

Food prices have risen beyond residents’ expectations, following predictions by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, that hunger may erupt in the north this year due to excessive flooding.

According to Track News, the increase in food prices in Sabon Tasha, Kawo, and Central markets in Kaduna is due to a disruption in the supply chain caused by recent floods across Nigeria.

Rhoda Moses, who sells dried cassava, beans, yam, and sweet potatoes at Kaduna’s central market, said she has been unable to receive supplies from farmers in Kogi, Delta, Ogun, or Anambra for the past five weeks due to flooding.

“Most of my suppliers come from different states; Lokoja, Delta, Anambra, River, and so on, but due to flooding in some states, I learned their farm could no longer be assessed.” Even those who want to sell cannot enter Kaduna because the Kogi road has been washed out.”

Musa Arungo, another trader in Kawo market, told Track News on Sunday that, in addition to food, there would be a scarcity of meat, onion, and pepper, because these essential commodities did not yield produce this year due to flooding in the country’s north.

“I load trailers of pepper and onion from Gombe to Kaduna and occasionally to other states.” But this year, according to the reports I’m getting, there isn’t a single pepper on the farm.” He stated

Jonathan Musa, a full-time farmer from Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, claimed that the excessive rain caused him to lose all of his farm produce.

” I am a farmer who grows yam, maize, plantain, and cassava in large quantities and supplies them to Kaduna. Due to excessive rain, many farmers in my area were forced out of business.” He stated.

Mrs. Grace Adama, who buys wholesale and sells retail, stated that food prices rise on a daily basis. She claimed that a bag of rice she purchased on October 20 for 35,000 Naira was sold the next day for 37,000 Naira.

According to her, as wholesale prices rise, traders will raise the retail prices of those food items as well.