Yuletide: Prices of rice, other condiments remain stable

Consumers in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have expressed happiness over the stable price of goods, especially rice, a staple food in most homes, even as Christmas approaches.

However, this will not be said of stock-fish, a highly sort-after fish brand in the area, which is going beyond the reach of the common man.

It is common for traders to jerk-up prices of items, especially food items, clothes and shoes, due to high demand; however, this year seems to be different as basic food items remain stable.

BusinessDay survey of major markets in Aba reveals that 50 kilogramme bag of rice, which sold for N10,000 to N12,000, about this same period last year, is currently stable at N8,500. Other condiments, like tin tomatoes and vegetable oil are also stable.

For instance, a carton of Gino brand of tin tomatoes is currently selling for N1,400, Sweet brand – N1,350, Clappa brand – N1,300, Brisk Farm brand is selling for N1,250, while 20 litres of Bovo brand of vegetable oil is currently selling for N4,400.

Promise Njoku, a rice dealer at Cemetery Market, observes that many households will be able to afford rice this yuletide, as prices of the item, have dropped drastically compared with last year.

According to Njoku, a 50kg bag of Royal Stallion rice, which sold for N11,000 last year, is currently N8,500, Mama Gold N10,500 and Mama Africa N8,500. Mama Gold sold for N12,000, same period last year.

However, stock-fish, which is a must use in soup and oil-bean salad, a local delicacy in the in the South-East region of the country, is skyrocketing in price.

A sack of stock-fish head, known as Apama, which sold for N38,000, a week ago, is presently N45,000. Also, prices of stock-fish hand of different kinds, namely Rancy, Harddock and Cord, keep increasing week after week.

Rancy, which sold for N105,000, last week is currently N120,000. Harddock was N135,000, but presently N145,000 per bag, while Cord, which is the sweetest and most costly of the brands, was N160,000, but now  N170,000.

Maduabughichi Obi, a stock-fish dealer at Cemetery Market, attributes the constant rise in the price of the product to the yuletide.

According to him, a lot of people are patronising stock-fish sellers, consequently, the increase is as a result of high demand for the commodity.

He, however, explains that stock-fish, which is imported from Europe, is presently scarce.

GODFREY OFURUM & CHIDIMMA NWOKORO