…Traders express frustration
June 8, 2018
By Elizabeth A. Kaine
Foodstuff traders in Freetown have expressed frustration and disappointment over the hike in the prices of local food commodities, which they say has seriously affected sales.
Speaking to Concord Times in an exclusive interview, local foodstuffs traders at Congo Market, West of Freetown, disclosed that sales have been very slow for them this year due to the hike in prices of local food commodities.
Hawanatu Kargbo, a trader who deals in assorted local foodstuff at Congo Market, noted that consumers in most cases would want to buy local products like cocoyam, cassava, plantain, banana, yam and sweet potato, but are scared away by the prices.
She observed that the above-mentioned local products are mainly consumed during the Month of Ramadan because of their nutritional value and the fact that they are easier to consume after breaking fast, adding that the hike in the prices of the said food stuff was of serious concern to traders.
She called on the government to look into the issue and stabilise prices.
A regular at the market, Madam Aisha Bangura, noted that local foodstuff like cassava, potatoes, plantain, coco yam and yam could serve as valuable ingredients of local dishes.
For Martha Kanu, she observed that the reasons for the increase in the prices of foodstuff could be linked to high transportation fare paid by farmers to transport their goods to the market.
She called on the government to pay more attention and empower farmers who produce local food in the country.