Consumers have started enjoying lower prices due to a good harvest in season A.
The prices of staple foods have started dropping due to a steady increase in production. A mini-survey by Rwanda Today across various retail shops and market places countrywide shows that consumers have started enjoying lower prices due to a good harvest in season A.
A survey in Kigali markets showed that the prices of basic staple foods such as Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, cassava flour, green bananas and beans has reduced.
For instance, a kilo of beans now costs about Rwf450 from Rwf500 while a kilo of Irish potatoes, the much-loved Kinigi variety, was selling for Rwf280 and Rwf300 from Rwf330 and Rwf350 depending on the quality, while a kilo of sweat potatoes costs between Rwf200 and Rwf250, from the Rwf400 price a few weeks ago.
The survey showed that the price of green bananas reduced from Rwf400 a kilo at in the beginning of last month to Rwf300 and Rwf250 a kilo depending on the quality; while corn has remained constant at between Rwf180 and Rwf200 per kilo.
“Nearly all staple food prices have eased, thanks to the supply on the market which has increased because the last farming season was good,” said Donath Musabyimana, a sweat potatoe and Irish potatoes dealer in Nyabugogo market.
The price of rice both locally produced and imported has reduced as well. For instance, the cost of Tanzanian rice, has dropped by Rwf200 and is now sold at Rwf1,000 per kilo.
The cost of Thailand rice increased to Rwf1,000 a kilo from Rwf900. However, maize flour prices remain constant at Rwf500 per kilo.
However, the price of fresh vegetables has gone up partly due to recent flooding which destroyed thousands of acres of vegetables in different areas across the country.
Market vendors in Kimiroko market say the prices of vegetables such as courgettes, carrots, broccolis, onions, cucumbers and spinach have almost doubled since the beginning of this year.
For instance, a kilo of spinach is currently sold at Rwf700 from between Rwf400 and Rwf450 a few month ago, while courgettes, tomatoes and broccolis cost Rwf700 a kilo from Rwf400 in April.
Elias Ntawuyirushamaboko, a vegetable supplier from Eastern province, said there is a shortage in production.
For instance, supply of tomatoes has dropped from 72 baskets to 40 baskets due to a shortage in production.
According to recent figures from the National Institute of Statistics, the country’s overall Consumer Price Index in decreased by 0.1 per cent last April on an annual basis and increased by 1.9 per cent on a monthly basis as food and non-alcoholic beverages’ prices eased.