Prices of food items are coming down following the arrival of new harvests at Kano markets where a bag of rice now sells for N17,500 as against previous price of N19,000 and above.
A survey at some markets in the state revealed that prices of some grains have drastically reduced but rice, still experiencing high demand, remains costly but with slight drop in price. A bag of maize is now selling for N10,000 as against N13, 000 it sold last month, while a measure cost N357, down from between N470 and N500 previously.
Price of a measure of millet has equally dropped from N360 to about N250. Checks revealed that the price of a bag of rice, which sold for N19,000, is now selling at N17,500 while a measure cost N700.
Some consumers, who spoke with newsmen, expressed optimism that the prices of food items would crash further before the year ends. Malam Sani Usman, a consumer, said that the current economic hardship would end when there is massive food production. He said that when people don’t produce but consume more, “there is bound to be food-shortage and the economy will become weak’’.
Another customer, Ibrahim Asim, appealed to traders to desist from hoarding food in an attempt to make more gains.