Consumers, traders groan as watermelon scarcity hits Lagos

Watermelon traders and consumers in Lagos have raised concerns over the rising price and scarcity of the fruit, citing transportation costs and reduced supply from northern states.

In separate interviews with our correspondent on Thursday, the traders decried the significant increase in prices in spite of the upcoming harvest season in November.

Our correspondent reports that watermelon is a widely consumed fruit in Nigerian households, commonly eaten fresh or served as a refreshing snack, especially in hot weather.

Watermelons are rich in water content, vitamins, and antioxidants, making them a popular choice for hydration and nutrition.

However, issues such as seasonal fluctuations, high transportation costs, and limited local cultivation have contributed to the surge in prices.

NAN reports that a large watermelon sells for between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000, depending on size and quality, compared to between ₦1,200 and ₦1,500 around the same time last year.

Traders lamented that the significant price increase had affected consumer demand and reduced overall profit margins.

Mr Abdullah Musa, Chairman of the Watermelon Sellers Association Doyin Orile Market, said the cost of transporting and offloading watermelons has more than doubled in recent months.

“The cost of offloading a truck of watermelon rose from N1.5 million last year to N1.8 million in January this year, and now it is N3.2 million as of October,” he said.

Musa attributed the high cost to supply challenges, noting that most of their stock comes from Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, and Niger states, as there are no major suppliers in Lagos.

“We are currently only selling Kampala and smooth watermelon varieties. We don’t have seedless watermelons available,” he added.

Another trader, Malam Ashiru Aminu at Orile Market, said watermelons are not yet in season and often spoil quickly, which has discouraged buyers.

“We hope that prices and quality will improve once the peak season begins next month,” he said.

Similarly, a hawker, Mrs Ajoke Adebayo, popularly known as Iya Ajoke, said she has seen a significant drop in profit due to the increase in purchase price.

“Before, I used to buy a watermelon for N1,400, but now it costs N2,500. Customers are complaining because some of the fruits are either not ripe or rot after cutting,” she said.

Also, Malam Yunusa Yayah, who sells watermelon near Orile Iganmu Police Station, also confirmed the poor quality of the current produce in the market.

“They spoil easily, they are not sweet, they don’t contain much water, and they have very few seeds. This is because it’s not yet the season,” he said.

Yayah noted that while he is familiar with Kampala watermelons, which contain fewer seeds, he has never encountered completely seedless varieties.

“If we can stop relying heavily on bringing most of our produce from far away, I believe it will make a big difference in most businesses,” Yayah added.

Mrs Abiodun Banire, who sells fruit drinks in Surulere, said watermelon is the base for any fruit blend she makes, and sourcing for good ones has recently become a major challenge.

“Watermelon used to be the base for most of my recipes because it’s cheap and refreshing. Now, I have to replace it with pineapple or oranges, and my profit margin has dropped.

“It has really affected my small smoothie business,” she explained.

Mrs Oluyemisi Ishola, a resident of Iganmu, said to avoid buying tasteless watermelons, she has resorted to buying from various vendors.

“I now buy from different watermelon vendors since I lost trust in my regular vendor after consistently getting watermelons that aren’t as red and juicy as before.

“I have switched to oranges now,” she added.