Price of foodstuff have continued to gallop in the bush markets of Benue State, the supposed Food Basket of the nation.Benue, one of the highest producers of yam, cassava and soya bean, ranks among states with the cheapest food prices in the country.
However, in the past two weeks, the North Central state witnessed unprecedented spike in the prices of food items on a scale that has left the citizenry bewildered.
For instance, two weeks ago, a 25kg measure of rice, which sold for N11,000 at Gboko Rice Mill, now sells for N30,000. Ditto other farm produce. A heap of one hundred pieces of medium sized yams which sold for N30,000 to N50,000 sold for N80,000 to N100,000 yesterday.
When The Guardian asked the traders at Ugba Market the reason for the sharp increase in price, they blamed transportation cost. According to one of the traders, simply identified as Orshio, sometimes the cost of transporting yams from the farms to the market is more than the cost of the produce.
But a yam driver at the market, who simply identified himself as Sam, told The Guardian: “As at today, we buy a litre of petrol for N1,000. How do you think we can cope?”
