Are you a lover of sweet potatoes, yams or fresh peas? Well, you will have to dig deeper into your pockets to buy your favourite dish following a price increase of these food items in markets around the city and suburbs over the last week or so, according to a mini-survey by Business Times.

The price of sweet potatoes rose by Rwf150 to Rwf400 per kilogramme in most city markets, up from Rwf250 previously.

That of yams increased to Rwf500 a kilo from Rwf300 over the past two weeks, fresh peas increased to Rwf1,800, up from Rwf1,200 per kilogramme and bananas increased by Rwf50 to Rwf400 from Rwf350 in Kimironko and Nyarugenge markets, respectively.

Damien Hakizimana, a trader in Nyarugenge Market, attributed the increase to low supply from the main producing areas in the Southern and Northern provinces, especially in districts of Ruhango and Musanze. Rwanda’s inflation rate that inched up to 8.1 per cent in February year-on-year compared to 7.4 per cent the previous month, driven mainly by rising prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, cost of housing, water electricity, gas and other fuels, and transport, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda consumer price index monthly report for February released on Friday.

Meanwhile, fresh beans range from Rwf400 to Rwf600 a kilogramme, that of cassava tubers cost between Rwf300 to Rwf350, while a medium-sized tin of carrots costs between Rwf600 to Rwf700 per kilo. Cabbages range from Rwf300 to Rwf500 in most city markets, depending on size, onions are at Rwf700 per kilogramme, while maize flour costs Rwf600 per kilogramme in Batsinda market.

Pumpkins are at between Rwf500 and Rwf600 each, avocados go for Rwf200 each, and a kilogramme of fresh fish is at Rwf3,000.