Nigerians lament high cost of yam, 100 tubers sell for N1m in Karuna

Nigerians lament high cost of yam, 100 tubers sell for N1m in Karuna

Both the sellers and buyers alike are confused at the Bakin Dogo food market in Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, as 100 tubers of old yam go for N1 million at wholesale.

Meanwhile, the same number of new yams cost between 350,000 and 400,000 in the same market.

One of the retailers in the market identified as Alhaji Abubakar, lamented his inability to recoup his capital let alone make any profit from the last 100 tubers he bought.

According to him, “Honestly we are in big trouble. I have never experienced this type of market for decades. We are suffering too much this time around.

“One Koriya (100 pieces) of big old yam is N1 million. More than half of the last ones I bought are still here because people are not ready to buy one yam for more than N9,000.

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“Imagine selling one yam for N10,000. Those who buy one or two are our regular customers who have built trust in us over a period of time. Others are pricing it anyhow”, he said.

To Muhammed, “the new yam is already here, and that poses a big threat to those of us who still have old yams for sale. “For example, I sell one new yam for between N4,000 and N4,500. That is equivalent to the old ones while we sell10 pieces of new yam (medium) for 14,500.”

They both attributed the scarcity of yams to the inability of a lot of yam dealers to go to remote villages due to escalating insecurity in the country. The available are also being mopped up for inward transportation to neighbouring countries like Niger and Ghana.

One of the prospective buyers who spoke in confidence said: “I have to change my mind. The last time I came here, I bought the same size N3, 000. “Today they are asking me to pay N9,000 for just one old yam and N4,000 for a new yam. But, I don’t want to buy the new yam yet because it can easily spoil.

“Meanwhile one tier of garri is N1, 400. So, why do I have to spend my scarce money just to buy just one yam that we will just boil and eat once?”

Nigerians lament high cost of yam, 100 tubers sell for N1m in Karuna

The Sun