Food prices soar in Kigali

Price of some foodstuffs like tomatoes and potatoes increased in most markets around Kigali, a mini-survey carried out by Business Times can reveal. Prices of other products like beans, cassava and bananas remained the same. Commodity prices like cooking oil increased in the past few weeks from Rwf1,200 per litre to Rwf1,400. Traders in Kimironko and Nyabugogo markets attributed the increase in price to the combination of the recent hike in fuel prices and bad harvest. “Fuel prices pushed up the price of cooking oil making wholesalers to demand more for their product. The situation has been worsened by low supplies,” Christina Murungi, a cooking oil retailer, told Business Times. The survey indicates that prices of food items like tomatoes and Irish potatoes increased by almost 100 percent and 20 percent, respectively. Tomato prices shot up from Rwf500 to Rwf1, 000 per bucket. The survey shows that people are likely to switch to eating carrots, of which the price dropped by Rwf100 per kilogramme. The price of Irish potatoes hiked from Rwf100 to Rwf120 per kilogramme. Peas are trading at Rwf1,200 per kilogramme from Rwf800, onions and French beans are selling both for Rwf100 more per kilogramme. One consumer told Business Times that he reduced the consumption of certain food items. “In the case of tomatoes where I used to buy a big bucket of Rwf1,000 which was brought for my family for days, I now purchase a small bucket for Rwf1,500. It doesn’t last long,” Fideli Mananse said. Fuel Factor Last month, pump prices for both petrol and diesel increased on the local market from Rwf952 per liter to Rwf965 and Rwf946 to Rwf958 per liter respectively. The price is the highest the country ever experienced. The Ministry of Trade and Industry attributed the trend to the international oil prices, which are governed by the rules of supply and demand. Ends

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Food prices soar in Kigali