High Cost Of Food Stuffs Worries Imo Residents

Residents of Owerri, the
Imo capital, have expressed concern over the sharp increase in the cost of some food items, like tomatoes, crayfish and rice.
Some of the residents, who spoke to our correspondent last Saturday in Owerri, said the increase in the prices of these foodstuffs had led to hardship.
One of the residents, Mrs Chinasa Nwagwu, said she could no longer afford to buy fresh tomatoes and had opted for tin tomatoes, even when she did not like the taste.
Remarking in the same vein, Mrs Jane Nwoye, said it had been difficult for her to cook a pot of soup for her family because of the astronomical increase in the cost of tomatoes and crayfish.
A market survey conducted by our correspondent showed that a small bucket of fresh tomatoes which used to sell for N800 now sells for N2,500.
A tin of crayfish which used to sell for N1,200 now goes for N2,500 while the price of a small bunch of plantain had jumped from N1,000 to N2,000.
Some traders, who spoke to our correspondent attributed the hike in the cost of these essential food items to the rainy season.
Ismail Yuguda, who sells tomatoes, said the price of the commodity would come down after the rains when the harvest season sets-in.
Julius Ukachukwu who sells rice blamed the recent hike in the price of rice on the ban on importation of the commodity.
A 50Kg bag of rice which used to sell for N8,500 in March had increased to N12,500