Prices of food items skyrocket in Kano markets
By BALA ABUBAKAR

AS the New Year 2007 commences, prices of some food items in most markets in Kano have risen while some remained stable.
A survey conducted by Daily Triumph in some markets, revealed that there was an increase in the prices of some foodstuff ranging from rice, millet, beans, garri and guinea corn.
Investigations further revealed that the price increased by at least three per cent compared to what they were about two months back.
At the ‘Yankaba and Sabon Gari markets in Kano metropolis, a measure of foreign rice sells at N350 instead of N280 sold about two months away, while a measure of locally produced rice sells at N220 compared to one month back where it sold at N160.
Prices of oil in most markets have also sky rocketed as a bottle of groundnut oil sells at N200 while before the New Year, it was sold at N130, representing an increase of about seven per cent.
One of the market leaders, Malam Musa Zawaciki, who spoke to our reporter at ‘Yankaba market, said the increase in prices of these commodities was as a result of the total ban placed on such products by the federal government.
At Sabon Gari market, the price of garri was relatively increased as a measure sells at N140 while about two months before the new year, it was sold at N100.
Also, a bottle of palm oil which sold at N100, now sells for N150, representing an increase of about five per cent, while a measure of beans initially sold at N70 now sells between N90 and N100 per measure respectively.
The prices of live chicken has also increased at ‘Yankaba and Sabon Gari markets as a big size chicken sells at N500, while medium size is sold at N360.