Flood: Prices Of Food Items Skyrocket In Kaduna

Following the incidence of flood in Kaduna state, the prices of food items have skyrocketed in some parts of the state due to the disruption in the supply chain occasioned by the natural disaster.

Naija News reports that the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, had earlier predicted the situation, saying that hunger may surface in the north due to excessive floods this year.

Therefore, the hike in food prices in Sabon Tasha, Kawo and Central markets in Kaduna didn’t really come as a surprise.

A trader at the central market in Kaduna identified as Rhoda Moses, who sells dried cassava, beans, yam, and sweet potatoes told The Nation that for five weeks now, she has not been able to receive supplies from farmers in Kogi, Delta, Ogun or Anambra due to the flooding.

“Most of my suppliers come from different states, Lokoja, Delta, Anambra, River, etc, but since flooding took over some states, I learnt their farm could no longer be assessed. Even those who want to sell, can not enter Kaduna, because flood took over Kogi road,” Moses said.

Another trader, Musa Arungo in Kawo market said apart from the hike in foodstuff, there would be a scarcity of meat, onion and pepper, because these essential commodities did not yield produce this year, due to flooding in the northern part of the country.

Grace Adama, another trader who buys food items from wholesale to retail said prices of foodstuff increases daily, adding that a bag of rice she bought on October 20 for 35,000 Naira, was sold for 37,000 Naira the following day.

According to her, as the wholesale price increases, so also traders will increase the retail prices of those food items.

He said, ”I load trailers of pepper, onion, from Gombe to Kaduna, and sometimes, to other states. But this year, the reports I am getting now is that no single pepper in the farm this year.”

Jonathan Musa who claimed to be a full-time farmer from Kagarko local government area of Kaduna State said the excessive rain made him lose all his farm produce.

”I am a farmer, who cultivates yam, maize, plantain, and cassava in large quantities and supplies to Kaduna main town. Many farmers in my area were forced out of business, due to excessive rain,” he said.