Passion fruits, mango prices increase in greater Kigali

If you are a juice lover, you need to dig deeper into your pockets to buy fruits to make your favourite drink following price increases over the past week.

Monday, August 10, 2015
Prices of tomatoes and watermelon have gone up in most city markets. (Appolonia Uwanziga)

If you are a juice lover, you need to dig deeper into your pockets to buy fruits to make your favourite drink following price increases over the past week.

A kilogramme of passion fruits now costs Rwf1,700 in most city markets, up from Rwf1,200 a week ago, while that of mangoes is up by Rwf400 at Rwf1,500 from Rwf1,000 previously in Kigali and its suburbs.

A kilogramme of oranges now goes for Rwf1,600 in Nyabugogo market up from Rwf1,200 last week.

A small watermelon is at Rwf2,500, while big ones cost between Rwf3,000, from Rwf3,500 each.

Egide Kalinda, a passion fruit vendor in Nyabugogo market, attributed the increase to low supply.

Prices of other foodstuffs, including Irish potatoes, also increased, but others were unchanged. The price of Irish potatoes is now at Rwf190 per kilogramme, from Rwf180 in Kimironko market. A kilo of fresh peas increased to Rwf1,300 in Batsinda Market, from Rwf1,200 previously, while fresh beans cost Rwf500 a kilo, from Rwf450. That of tomatoes went up from Rwf4,500 per basin (measurement unit) to Rwf6,500, while onions are at Rwf1,100 per kilo compared to Rwf900 last week, and the price of ground nuts increased to Rwf1,200 per kilogramme, from Rwf1,000.

Alice Umurerwa, a trader in Batsinda market, said the upward trend of commodity prices could continue for weeks.

A 25-kg bag of maize flour costs between Rwf12,000 to Rwf13,000, depending on location, cassava flour costs between Rwf350 and Rwf500 per kilo and carrots cost Rwf700 per kilo. Prices of cabbages range from Rwf350 to Rwf500, depending on size, and avocadoes are at between Rwf100 to Rwf200, while rice is at between Rwf750 and Rwf1,100 per kilo and the prices of sugar range from Rwf700 to Rwf850.

A bunch of bananas ranges between Rwf6,900 to Rwf9,000, depending on size and location.

Sweet potatoes cost Rwf300 per kilogramme, cassava also cost Rwf250 per kilo, a five-litre jerrycan of cooking oil costs Rwf6,200.

Pineapples go for Rwf500 to Rwf750, depending on the size and bread (kigrogramme) costs Rwf700 to Rwf2,200, depending on the brand, type, or whether one buys in a supermarket or a neighbourhood shop. Milk costs between Rwf400 to Rwf500 per litre in most centres of Kigali City.  Beef also ranges from Rwf2,400 to Rwf2700 per kilogramme in Batsinda and Kimironko markets, a bar of soap costs between Rwf500 to Rwf650 in different markets in the city and suburbs.