The price of garri, a
staple food item in Cross River State, has  increased in Calabar and environs, reports say.
A survey showed that a big basin of garri that used to sell for between N3,500 and N4,000 depending on quality, now sells for between N4,000 and N5,000.
Investigation also revealed that a small basin of the commodity that sold for between N1,500 and N2000 now goes for N2500.
Retailers now sell six cups of garri for N200 instead of eight cups for N200 sold earlier.
Dealers attributed the increase in price to increase in transport fares, caused by the current fuel scarcity in the state.
A dealer, Mrs Agnes Ikwen, said: “We went to buy garri at Ugep, and the transport fares to and from the place increased; so, we also have to add something to cover our expenses”.
A resident, Mr Asuquo Edet, said that he was worried whether the price of the food item would fall.
“Is there any price of a commodity that goes up and comes down easily; I doubt if it will come down again,’’ Edet said.
A restaurant operator, Mr John Marcus, however, said that the current increase would not affect the consumption of garri in the state.
“No matter the increase in price, as long as it is available, people will continue to consume it because this is a staple foodstuff for people in this state,’’ he said.