Food prices up in Bukoba as drought intensifies

Our survey at Bukoba Central market showed prices for essential food commodities have slightly increased with sugar being sold between 2,500/- and 3,000/- per kilogramme up from 2,000/- - 2,200/- in October, this year.

Rice is sold between 1,500/- and 2,000/- per kilogramme up from 1,000/- and 1,300/-, while beans are sold at between 1,800/- and 2,500/- per kilogramme up from 1,300/- and 1,500/-.

The survey showed cereal prices have gone up as maize are sold at between 1,300/- and -1,900/- per kilogramme up from 800/- and 1,000/- and the price for millet is between 1,600/- and 2,000/- compared to 1,000/- and 1,500/- in October.

A bunch of raw bananas was sold between 15,000/- and 25,000/- up from between 10,000/- and 15,000/-. Khadija Kaijage (25), a petty trader at Bukoba Market attributed the price hiking due to prolonged drought that hit the region.

“In the past we used to get plenty of raw bananas from Karagwe and Kyerwa districts which were hardly hit by the drought. If the situation does not improve, we shall face hardship during Christmas and New Year holidays,” she said.

Bukoba is a town in northwest Tanzania on the western shore of Lake Victoria. It is the capital of Kagera Region and the administrative seat for Bukoba Urban District.

SOURCE: DAILY NEWS

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