The rapid increase of transport costs is making Mbale people starve over lemon distribution in the markets.
By Arajabu Wampula
The prices of fresh fruits like lemon, ginger and garlic had gone high even before the president of Uganda declared total lockdown for a period of forty two days.
The rapid increase of transport costs is making Mbale people starve over lemon distribution in the markets.
After the medical personnel’s advise to eat fruits as a source of vitamin c, many people in Mbale have been buying and involving themselves into the business of fresh fruits like Lemon and ginger.
The situation has been so positive and advantageous to the people in the businesses as their earnings have increased.
Noah Yassin, a business man dealing in fruits from Mbale central market says that after the total lockdown, the price for a bag of lemon increased from shs100,000/= to shs300,000. He says that he uses to sell 12 lemons at shs1000/= but now things have totally Changed as six lemons in the size of “entula” is at shs1000/=, the next bigger size three at shs1000/= and the biggest size, one lemon costs shs1000/=.
“The increase in these prices is due to the high transport and doctors teachings about the importance of fruits to people which has made farmers to increase the selling price,” said Noah.
Noah adds that the fruits are being bought from Teso, Serere, Lira, Padel, Gulu and Arua. In Mbale,lemon is not being grown because the souls don’t favor the crop but onion are there.
There has been shortage in lemon distribution due to high transport as it’s being grown from the areas mentioned.
He continues to say that the thorough complaints got from customers are making them hunt for lemon whenever it is despite the transport costs.
This is because his sales and profits have increased by over 70% in presence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aramadhan Namome, the secretary of fresh foods, Mbale Central market says that not only lemon prices have increased in price, ginger has also increased as previously before covid 19, a Kg was at shs1500/= but now, it has increased to shs4500/=. The price increase is because of the high demand but low supply of the good in the market.
He says that there has been hardship in transportation of lemons and even though one goes there to buy, he/she is being looked at as a victim of covid19 by the farmers .
“In addition, we as management remove a tax of 500 hundred from each bag which arrives in the market and this helps in the payment of the garbage collectors who cleans up the garbage from the market.
Hashim Magomu, a dealer in fresh foods based in Bugwere Market Mbale says that he is selling one lemon at shs250/=. He reveals that before the stopping of vehicles from crossing districts, more customers have disappeared as he used to sell to those moving to long distances.
