Is matooke costly? Go for tubers
Oct 30, 2009
THANKS to the rainy season, there has been an increase in food items and a consequent reduction in prices. Take the case of milk, vegetables and fruits. A litre of pasteurised milk costs between sh1,400 and sh1,600, a bundle of green vegetables like nakat
BY VISION REPORTER
THANKS to the rainy season, there has been an increase in food items and a consequent reduction in prices. Take the case of milk, vegetables and fruits. A litre of pasteurised milk costs between sh1,400 and sh1,600, a bundle of green vegetables like nakatti and bugga costs as little as sh500, a heap of eggplants or one of 4 to 5 green peppers and costs sh500. Fruits like oranges and tangerines now go for sh500 for a heap of 20.
On the other hand, the prices of tubers like cassava, sweet and Irish potatoes are still high, despite the increased supply. A heap of cassava and sweet potatoes costs between sh1,000 and sh2,000, while a kataasa (small bowl) of Irish costs sh4,000.
Traders attribute it to shoppers resorting to the tubers, following the scarcity of matooke, which now costs between sh13,000 and sh25,000. Traders attribute the scarcity to the dry season that affected the production areas, for example, Mbarara. However, traders affirm that with the increased rains, the harvest of matooke is likely to increase, hopefully bringing the prices down.
BUYING TIPS:
Now that prices of matooke are exorbitant in the markets, you can opt to buy from farmer’s trucks for better bargains. For example, a bunch will cost you sh15,000 at wholesale price.
Alternatively, in the meantime you could switch to cassava, sweet and Irish potatoes since they are in plenty.
THANKS to the rainy season, there has been an increase in food items and a consequent reduction in prices. Take the case of milk, vegetables and fruits. A litre of pasteurised milk costs between sh1,400 and sh1,600, a bundle of green vegetables like nakatti and bugga costs as little as sh500, a heap of eggplants or one of 4 to 5 green peppers and costs sh500. Fruits like oranges and tangerines now go for sh500 for a heap of 20.
On the other hand, the prices of tubers like cassava, sweet and Irish potatoes are still high, despite the increased supply. A heap of cassava and sweet potatoes costs between sh1,000 and sh2,000, while a kataasa (small bowl) of Irish costs sh4,000.
Traders attribute it to shoppers resorting to the tubers, following the scarcity of matooke, which now costs between sh13,000 and sh25,000. Traders attribute the scarcity to the dry season that affected the production areas, for example, Mbarara. However, traders affirm that with the increased rains, the harvest of matooke is likely to increase, hopefully bringing the prices down.
BUYING TIPS:
Now that prices of matooke are exorbitant in the markets, you can opt to buy from farmer’s trucks for better bargains. For example, a bunch will cost you sh15,000 at wholesale price.
Alternatively, in the meantime you could switch to cassava, sweet and Irish potatoes since they are in plenty.