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Sep 28, 2011
<b>Market for oranges reduces</b><br>Traders of oranges and passion fruits in Kampala markets say their sales have reduced by 10%. <br>They blame the trend on the high sugar prices, which went up drastically from sh2,500 to sh6,000.
Market for oranges reduces
Traders of oranges and passion fruits in Kampala markets say their sales have reduced by 10%.
They blame the trend on the high sugar prices, which went up drastically from sh2,500 to sh6,000.
The traders also say the insufficient and unreliable electricity supply has also affected their sales.
Abasi Kintu, an orange and passion fruit trader in Owino market, explains that most small restaurants, who were their biggest customers, have abandoned the trade. People are taking less orange juice because of the high price of sugar.
He says this is because they fear making losses since their refrigerators are unreliable and they lack an alternative cooling system.
Another passion fruit trader, who only identified himself as Katende says before the sugar crisis he used to make about sh120,000 a day.
“I cannot believe that on a good day I can only go home with just sh40,000. Sometimes, I retire with sh20,000 only,†Katende says.
The low demand for oranges and passion fruits, coupled with a high supply, has, as a result, brought prices of these commodities down.
A kilogram of oranges in Owino, Naksero and Kibuye markets by end of last week was selling at sh500, while that of passion fruits was at sh1,500 to sh2,000. A kilogram of tangerines was selling at sh1,000.
Previously, a kilogram of oranges was costing between sh1,000 to 1,500, passion fruits sh2,500 and tangerines sh1,500.
Traders of oranges and passion fruits in Kampala markets say their sales have reduced by 10%.
They blame the trend on the high sugar prices, which went up drastically from sh2,500 to sh6,000.
The traders also say the insufficient and unreliable electricity supply has also affected their sales.
Abasi Kintu, an orange and passion fruit trader in Owino market, explains that most small restaurants, who were their biggest customers, have abandoned the trade. People are taking less orange juice because of the high price of sugar.
He says this is because they fear making losses since their refrigerators are unreliable and they lack an alternative cooling system.
Another passion fruit trader, who only identified himself as Katende says before the sugar crisis he used to make about sh120,000 a day.
“I cannot believe that on a good day I can only go home with just sh40,000. Sometimes, I retire with sh20,000 only,†Katende says.
The low demand for oranges and passion fruits, coupled with a high supply, has, as a result, brought prices of these commodities down.
A kilogram of oranges in Owino, Naksero and Kibuye markets by end of last week was selling at sh500, while that of passion fruits was at sh1,500 to sh2,000. A kilogram of tangerines was selling at sh1,000.
Previously, a kilogram of oranges was costing between sh1,000 to 1,500, passion fruits sh2,500 and tangerines sh1,500.