Some traders and residents in Lagos State have decried the negative impact of heavy rains and floods on the prices of agricultural produce, especially vegetables.

The traders and consumers, in separate interviews, said heavy rains were adversely affecting the prices of the produce.

The traders complained about significant losses because the rain washed away their produce, while consumers lamented the high cost.

A resident in the Agege area of the state, Nancy Umoh, complained about the high cost of ‘water leaf’ and pumpkin leaves (ugwu), which should be less expensive in the rainy season.

“I was able to purchase a bunch of water leaves for N3,000; the price is ridiculously high, and this is the same quantity I used to get for N1,000.

“When I complained to the trader, she said the rains had washed away more than half of her farm, leading to loss of her harvest.

“It is what it is; we can only buy what we can afford,” Ms Umoh said.

A vegetable trader, who requested anonymity, said she was new to the business and that in the past three weeks, the rain has not significantly affected business, adding that some traders increased prices on their own.

“I’m new in the business and have not really experienced the effect of the rains on my trade.

“But some traders who were really affected by the floods and lost some of their produce have increased the price they sell to the public,” she said.

On her part, Ebele Okafor, a fruit and vegetable trader at the Tejuosho area of the state, said she had suffered no losses, but the problem was lack of customers due to heavy rains.

“The rainy season is the best time for vegetable farmers to harvest their crops; if they don’t, they may end up losing their produce to flooding.

“If the farmers harvest their produce on time, the prices will not cost as much as they do.

“I usually get my fresh produce from Mile 12 market, but the issue is that we do not have as many customers as we should because of the rains. People don’t buy much fruit and vegetables during the rains,” Ms Okafor said.

However, a resident in the Surulere area of the state, Ruth Ike, complained about the rise in vegetable prices, which she blamed on the rainy season.

“Now we should be enjoying vegetables; I am even getting less because of the exorbitant prices.

“People spend more now just to get a little vegetable in their meals. You cannot get pumpkin leaves for less than N500 in any Lagos market.

“Some traders even don’t have the produce, due to the losses they incurred from the floods,” Ms Ike said.

 (NAN)