ZUL-HAJJ 9 1430 A.H.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER . 26 2009.
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Prices of ram, foodstuff increase sharply
Barely four days to Eid el-Kabir celebration, the prices of rams and other food items have increased sharply in Gombe, a survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has shown.
Alhaji Bala Usman, the chairman, Ram and Cattle Sellers Association, Gombe Cattle Market, told NAN that the prices of ram had increased by 30 per cent compared to last year.
According to him, an average size ram sold for N12,000 now costs between N18,000 and N20,000 while a medium size goes for N30,000 to N35,000 as against N25,000 to N30,000.
Similarly, the price of a big size ranges from N60,000 to and N120,000 as against N45,000 to N85,000.
He attributed the price increase to the high cost of animal feed which now costs between N1,500 to N1,800 as against N1,000 last year.
“We just have to increase the prices of animals because rearing domestic animal is not easy” he said.
He said that the price of food items like rice and flour also increased by with 10 per cent as a measure of foreign rice costs N270 from N250 while the local variety sells for N180 as against N160.
The survey also showed that the price of flour rose to N170 from its previous price of N150 while a gallon of Turkey oil sells for N1,100 as against N950 previously.
Umar attributed the price hike to the festive period, saying:``Normally during a period such as this one, prices of goods increase so that is not a new thing,” he said.
