Posted on March, 27, 2017 at 11:04 am
RETAIL prices of cereals including maize and beans have plummeted in Sumbawanga Municipality in Rukwa Region, thanks to bumper harvest, which has flooded markets in the municipal.
Min-surveys conducted today by “Daily News” at cereals’ Nelson Mandela market at Mazwi Ward in the municipality show that a bag of maize of six tins sold at a retail price between 84,000/- and, 90,000/- .
Previously the same amount sold for a price between 100, 000/- and, 120,000/- of the same quantity and quality. Maize harvested last season is no longer available in the municipal’s markets and if found, is sold at a retail price of 20,000/- per tin.
A bag six tins sold for 120,000/-. Daily News has revealed that maize retail prices have dropped from over 200,000/- for a bag weighing 100 kgs to between 150,000/- and 180,000/- depending on the crop’ svariety.
A crops dealer who also owns Malafyale Store at Nelson Mandela market, Mr. Collonel Emanuel, said maize harvested in Lake Rukwa Basin in Sumbawanga District commands higher prices in Sumbawanga municipality’s markets due to its quality compared to maize grown gardens.
“A tin of maize harvested in Lake Rukwa Basin in Sumbawanga District sells for 15,000/- at a retail price while that harvested from gardens in the district is sold at 14,000/- per tin due to its inferior grade,” added Mr Emanuel.
“Daily News” discovered that apart from maize directly harvested from the field in Lake Rukwa Basin in the district, people from other precincts in the region eat maize harvested from gardens.
A cross section of owners of small scale grinding millers in the municipality alleged that residents preferred eating a meal of ‘dona flour’ instead of one of ‘sembe’. The tendency is a result of the difficulty in the area to process maize to get sembe flour.
Source: Daily News