Sweet potato prices crash in Bauchi

Prices of sweet potatoes have crashed amid market glut in Bauchi.

Our correspondent reports at Wunti Market in Bauchi metropolis showed that prices had dropped by over 100 per cent in the past weeks.

The market plummeted further by poor patronage amid increased supply of the produce.

A medium size bag of sweet potatoes was sold at N5,000, and a basket goes for N500, as against its old prices of N15,000 and N2,000, respectively.

Some of the traders attributed the trend to the persistent crash in prices of cereal crops and perishables this harvesting season.

Malam Baba Ahmed, a grocer at Wuntin Dada area of the metropolis, said the demand for sweet potatoes had dropped drastically because of ample supply of food commodities to the market.

He said that buyers showed low preference to the sweet potatoes resulting in a price crash.

“I made brisk sales last season because food prices were generally high and people relied more on alternatives like sweet potatoes.

“Although sweet potato farmers recorded a bumper harvest this season, the patronage is not there because prices of other food items have dropped.

“Lack of students in the campuses due to holidays also contributed to the low patronage. The market condition is discouraging and we have to devise means to make ends meet,” he said.

Audu Bala, a trader at the Wunti Market, said consumers now preferred staple food such as rice, maize and beans due to its cheaper prices compared to sweet potatoes.

He said the trend negatively affected their business, and expressed optimism that the market condition would soon improve.

Musa Garba, a sweet potato farmer, said the drop in the prices exposed them to losses.

He lamented that while consumers were enjoying the price crash, farmers and produce sellers were struggling to recoup their investments.

He called for pragmatic intervention programmes to enhance farmer access to subsidised inputs, agric financing and markets as well as introduction of price regulatory mechanisms.

Also commenting, David Markkus, an agronomist, attributed the drop in food prices to improved supply chains in the country.

He said seasonal factors also contributed to lower prices of grain and perishable produce.

“While the development provided relief to consumers, price variations still exist and sustained support for farmers is necessary to ensure long term food security and economic balance.”