Spinach and vegetable produce such as tomatoes and onions prices soared by over 100 per cent in Bauchi State amid a prolonged blackout.

A check by journalists at Muda Lawal and Wunti markets on Thursday in Bauchi showed that prices had shot up by about 100 per cent in the last four weeks.

A bunch of spinach previously sold at N1,500 now cost N5,000. Tomatoes also indicated a similar price increase as a measure sold for N1,500 and onions N2,700 against N700 and N1,500.

Sa’idu Usman, chairman of the Narasa Vegetable Association, Muda Lawal market, attributed th hike to the high cost of transportation of farm produce.

He said the hike in pump prices also affected the cultivation and preservation of spinach and other vegetables.

Mr Usman said vegetables were being supplied to the market from Ganjuwa, about 50 kilometres from the Bauchi metropolis.

“Prices are determined by the availability of the produce. Spinach is scarce in the market, as farmers began irrigation activities not too long ago.

“Retailers in the market now sell a measure of spinach between N400, N500 and N1,000 due to scarcity. Under normal circumstances we took supply of 10 vehicles daily, as against less than five,” he said.

Mr Usman further said the perennial outage compounded the situation, adding that traders were spending more on petrol to power refrigerators to enable them to preserve vegetables.

Another trader, Isa Kalla, said they were not making good sales due to low patronage amid a low supply of vegetables.

He, however, expressed optimism that the market condition would improve when the supply increased.

Also commenting, Adam Nuhu, a vegetable grower, said the high cost of petrol was causing a heavy drain in his pockets and badly affected his production capacity.

He said he now spent about N6,000 to fuel his water pump to enable him to irrigate his plantation.

“The high cost of buying petrol to water the farm also pushed prices of vegetables upward, and some farmers could not afford a big portion of land to cultivate this dry season,” he said.

He expressed the fear that many dry-season farmers could not cultivate their farmlands due to the high cost of petrol, fertilisers, and inputs.

Also, Maryam Idris and Nuratu Ado decried a prolonged power outage in the area, adding that it impeded the growth of farming and trading activities.

They also called for practical measures to improve electricity supply in the state.

(NAN)