By Stephen Nuwagira
Growers of beans in Ibanda, who were patient enough to store last season’s crop in anticipation of good prices are smiling all the way to the bank.
This follows an increase in the prices of a range of bean varieties in the district.
Small-sized mixed beans currently go for sh2,700 per kilogramme, up from sh2,000 about a month ago while big-sized mixed beans are up by sh1,100 at sh3,600 compared to sh2,500 at the beginning of last December.
A kilo of yellow beans costs sh4,000 at produce stores in Ibanda town, increasing from sh3,500 while that of green beans is at sh3,700.
Short beans go for sh3,200, up from sh2,500 over the reporting period, while the retail price of big white beans is sh4,500 compared to sh4,000 previously.
Nambale long is at sh3,500, inching up sh500 from sh3,000 previously. Produce dealers attributed the increase to demand from regional buyers from Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Godfrey Begumisa, the chairman Ibanda Produce Dealers Association, said the market was being supported by the demand from Tanzanian, Kenyan and Rwandan buyers.
He adds that most of the beans were also snapped up by these buyers in December last year.
He says buyers who bought seemingly half-dried beans at almost half the current price ranges at the onset of harvest season were now making a killing.
Price of maize down
Meanwhile, maize is trading lower at a farm-gate price of sh1,100, with dealers selling the grains at sh1,200 for each kilo of new crop grains.
The drop has been attributed to the onset of the new crop on the market. The price is, however, set to rise next month when schools open, traders say.
That of cereals had picked up at sh2,300 per kilo (retail price) in November and December last year.
