According to traders, prices of food items in major markets in Imo and Abia States have recorded a marginal drop, arising from clement weather, favourable harvests, and other economic factors.
A cross-section of residents, including traders, market vendors, and civil servants, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in the two states, described the development as temporary relief.
In Owerri, the respondents stated that the price drop might not be unrelated to the rainy season, which is gradually coming to an end.
They also said that the clement weather had helped both farmers and traders to preserve certain agricultural produce, such as tomatoes and pepper, leading to minor food losses.
A trader, Gladys Azubike, said that the stability in transportation costs also helped ensure price stability and a slight reduction.
Owerri Market survey
A market survey in the city shows that a basket of fresh tomatoes, sold for N40,000 over the last two months, has dropped to N38,000 and N35,000, depending on the quality.
A paint bucket of tomatoes, sold at N7,000, came down to N6,000, while a slightly bigger bucket, which sold at N8,500, is now N7,500.
A half-bucket
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