The price of fruits have shoot up in Tororo district due to high demand amidst scarcity.
The price of water melon is now ranging between 3,000 Shillings and 10,000 Shillings compared to previous price before lockdown which was between 1, 000 Shillings and 7,000shillings.Pineapples used to cost was between 800 and 1,500 Shillings but now cost between 2,000 to 3,000 Shillings depending on the size. Passion fruit now sells from 3,000 to 5,000 Shillings a heap depending to quantity, up from1,500 to 3,000 Shillings.
One mango now sells at 500 to 1000 Shillings depending on the size compared to the previous price which was between 500 and 700 shillings per mango. Three oranges now go for 1,000 Shillings up from 600 shillings.
According to the traders, the prices have shoot up due to the lockdown that has affected their movement to access farmers, high transport cost and scarcity of fruits in the area.
Most of fruit they are currently selling in Tororo is from district of Moroto, Apac, Kumi, Bugerere and some parts of Kabale which are quite distant.
Alex Yekton, a trader selling water melons along Hospital road in Tororo town, says that the high cost of transport to get the melons from Omoro, Apac and Kumi where they are currently buying them has made the price shoot up. The scarcity in the area and lockdown has also forced his fellow traders to quit the business.
Fred Katabi, a mango trader in Tororo town says that they have embarked on transacting their businesses on phone with farmers, which makes bargaining difficult enabling the farmers to overcharge for the fruits. Katabi says that this has affected their business, amidst the high cost of transportation.
James Onyango, a pineapple trader says that though there is increased fruit price, they are still making losses because most of people have left Tororo town and went to villages due to covid-19 lockdown which makes them to stay with their fruits for more than a week.
