Both sellers and buyers alike are confused at the Bakin Dogo food market, located in the Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as 100 tubers of yam hit ₦1 million at wholesale.

Meanwhile, the same number of new yams cost about ₦350,000 – ₦400,000 in the same market.

One of the retailers in the market, identified as Alhaji Abubakar, lamented his inability to recoup his capital, let alone make a profit, from the last 100 tubers he bought.

“Honestly, we are in big trouble,” he said. “I have never experienced this type of market for decades. We are suffering too much this time around. One Koriya (100 pieces) of big old yam is ₦1 million. More than half of the last ones I bought are still here because people are not ready to buy one yam for more than ₦9,000. Imagine, selling one yam for ₦10,000. Those who buy one or two are our regular customers who have built trust in us over a period of time. Others are pricing it anyhow.”

Muhammed, another retailer, added, “The new yam is already here, and that poses a big threat to those of us who still have old yam for sale. For example, I sell one new yam between ₦4,000 and ₦4,500. That is equivalent to the old ones, while we sell 10 pieces of new yam (medium) for ₦14,500.”

They both attributed the scarcity of yam to the inability of many yam dealers to go to remote villages due to escalating insecurity in the country. The available yams are also being mopped up for inward transportation to neighbouring countries like Niger and Ghana.

A prospective buyer, who spoke in confidence, said, “I have to change my mind. The last time I came here, I bought the same size for ₦3,000. Today they are asking me to pay ₦9,000 for just one old yam and ₦4,000 for a new yam. But I don’t want to buy the new yam yet because it is easily spoiled. Meanwhile, one tier of garri is ₦1,400. So, why do I have to spend my scarce money just to buy one yam that we will just boil and eat once?” (Daily Sun)

• Yams

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