While there is a prevalent global recovery from the financial crisis, food prices have continued to surge in Kigali.

According to revelers, the situation seems to be worsened by the on going dry season. Prices of food stuffs have continued to soar especially since the season started.

A Business Times mini-survey from selected markets around Kigali City also show that prices of different food items have almost doubled.

Traders in Kimiroko market yesterday said scarcity of food is attributed to dryness of the produce before harvest, more especially vegetables.

Potatoes are currently selling at Rwf200 from Rwf100 a kilogram. Prices of maize flour (sold in different types) have shot up as well.

The ‘number one’ type of flour is selling at Rwf300 from Rwf250 a kilogram. The ‘number two’ type is selling at Rwf250 from Rwf200 per kilogram. Bananas are selling at Rwf120 from Rwf80. Other commodities like beans have gone up by Rwf350 from Rwf200.

Traders said that vegetables have, however, gone up due to the scarcity caused by dry season.

Some vegetable prices in Kimiroko market have also gone up. French beans are currently selling at Rwf5,000 a basin compared to Rwf3, 500 before.

Onions are now at Rwf400 a Kilogram from Rwf250 a kilogram. Carrots are being sold at Rwf1500 from Rwf1,000 a kilogram and green pepper, Rwf9,000 from Rwf6,000 a sack.

The survey showed that some food prices went up by 0.9 percent in most market places by the end of June. Most of these include bananas, cassava, Irish potatoes, fresh fish, milk, meat, and vegetables such as tomatoes, green pepper beans and ground nuts.

According to Faustine Karangwa, a trader of Irish potatoes, most of the prices of Irish potatoes have gone up because the biggest volume is exported to Uganda.

"Traders from the region usually pay a lot for Rwanda’s Irish potatoes,” Karangwa explained.

Another fish trader Daine Nyinawumuntu, said there are low supplies in Rwanda and the local market has to depend on imports from neighboring countries. 

"About 10 tonnes of fish per week is imported and if these supplies were not there the local market would lack fish because our lakes produce a low quality type of fish,” she explained.

A kilogram of tilapia costs now costs Rwf1,800 from Rwf1,600 but prices keep on fluctuating depending on the supplies from Uganda and other neighboring countries.

Ends