By Stephen Nuwagira
The prices for a number of vegetables have gone up in Ibanda, with traders projecting the upward movement to continue for a couple of weeks.
Cabbages presently go for shillings 3,000 per big head of cabbage at Saza Market in Ibanda town, with medium ones ranging from shillings 2,000 to shillings 2,500 each while small cabbages cost about shillings 1,000 per head. This indicates an increase of more than shillings 500 for each size category. You will part with shillings 2,000 for three big carrots, while small (three) are at shillings 1,000 and four medium-sized ones cost shillings 2,000. A basin of carrots goes for shillings 40,000 and a dish is at shillings 13,000 each.
A basin of quality tomatoes costs sh40,000 from sh30,000 while that of small and low-quality tomatoes is at shillings 35,000 each. A dish of tomatoes ranges from shillings 13,000 to 15,000, and a bundle of five tomatoes goes costs between shillings 1,000 (small) and shillings 2,000 (big size).
Traders sell a basin of small head onions at shillings 60,000, increasing from shillings 50,000 over the reporting period while a dish goes for shillings 20,000 compared to shillings 15,000 previously. A bundle of onions ranges from shillings 2,000 – 5,000, depending on size. A bundle of about 10 small big head onions costs shillings 5,000, while the big one is at shillings 16,000 per dish, showing a rise from shillings 8,000 previously. A sack of big head onions is at shillings 800,000, up from shillings 500,000 three weeks ago.
Cucumbers are flat at shillings 1,000 per three pieces, while four green peppers cost shillings 2,000 and 10 pods of okra go for shillings 1,000.
Traders at Saza Market attribute the increases to dwindling supplies due to the ongoing dry spell in Ibanda and most parts of western region. Maclean Kanoeli projects the upward trend in prices to continue up to the last part of August.
Sarah Akansemeza, a trader in the market, said onions and carrots are being brought in from Kabarole, while tomatoes are from Masaka, Rakai and Lyantonde, with minimal supplies from within the district.
