Rains affect supply of leafy vegetables
Nov 15, 2011
Before the rains started, one would be sure that leafy green vegetables such as nakati, sukuma wiki and amaranths (dodo) of about sh2,000 would be enough for a family meal. For a single person, sh1,000 was enough.
Before the rains started, one would be sure that leafy green vegetables such as nakati, sukuma wiki and amaranths (dodo) of about sh2,000 would be enough for a family meal. For a single person, sh1,000 was enough.
Lately, one has to pay double the price to get enough greens for a meal. By end of last week, sukuma wiki and coriander registered the highest prices.
In Nakasero market, a bundle of coriander cost sh10,000 from sh7,000 a month ago. Sukuma wiki cost sh8,000 from sh6,000, while amaranths and nakati rose to sh5,000 a bundle, from sh3,500.
In Nakawa market, a bundle of sukuma wiki was selling at sh6,000 and that of coriander was at sh8,000.
The question at the moment is; where is this huge price change coming from, especially now that the leafy greens should be in season and how long will the situation last?
The traders argue that the problem comes from the ongoing rains that have caused floods in most of the producing areas, which are mostly swampy areas.
They also blame the trend on factors like high fuel prices and increasing exports to neighbouring countries.
The traders say the prices will go down when the rains stop in about four to six weeks.