Usman Abdu
The Kano State Branch of the Naibawa fruite sellers association has attributed the rise in watermelon prices this year to the insecurity challenges faced by watermelon farmers in the states were farming it.
The assertion was made by Mal Murtala Yunusa, Public Relations Officer, Naibawa Market Fruite sellers association , during an interview with our correspondent.
Murtala Yunus said, “Of course, this year there is a shortage of watermelons in this huge Naibawa fruite market due to the scarcity and high cost as a results of the states provided it to this market affordably like Zamfara, Niger, Geidam and Damaturu in Yobe state and parts of Sokoto State are facing serious insecurity challenge that can’t be able farming it ”
“Obviously these states are the main producers of watermelons and they are the ones that fill this market with it but this year are not providing it dut to that reason I mentioned Yunusa said”
“At the moment, the price of watermelon has dropped sharply due to the efforts of Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State and some other local government areas of Jigawa State to cultivate very little water melon and bring it to this market where as you can see it is almost gone. “There is a lot of goods in this market, except for the beginning of the fasting month, which is very short.”
Murtala added that “at the beginning of this holy month of Ramadan, the price of watermelon has skyrocketed with bags containing 100 watermelon being sold for N100,000 Naira but now it does not exceed N50,000. (50,000) Naira at fixed market prices”
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He listed the prices of Pineapples, Paw Paw and Bananas as the most expensive melons this year, but said people were more concerned with the price of watermelon because it was the most desirable thing for the fasting person as the weather shows.
He also urged the small and medium retailers in the market to lower the price of watermelon as it has reduced its price in the market and other daily necessities.
