Staple food prices soar — Dry spell hits hard at Tamale traders

The severe dry spell in Northern Ghana three months ago has devastated agricultural production and triggered a dramatic surge in food prices in Tamale, with staple crop prices doubling in just two months, pushing basic commodities beyond the reach of many residents.

Staple food prices have skyrocketed by nearly 100%, placing unprecedented economic pressure on traders and consumers in the Tamale metropolitan area.

A market survey conducted by Graphic Business at the Tamale Aboabo Market revealed that a bowl of groundnut that used to be sold at GH¢21 cedis is now selling at GH¢32 cedis, an increase of GH¢11 cedis and a bag of groundnut that was GH¢900 cedis is now GH¢1,300, a difference of GH¢400 cedis. 

Within two months, a bag of local rice jumped from GH¢250 to GH¢600, an astronomic increase of GH¢350. 
Millet two months ago was selling at GH¢950 for a bag but has increased to GH¢ 1,250, an increase of GH¢350. A bowl of beans that used to be sold at GH¢55 is now selling at GH¢75.

Corn, which is the most common staple used by people of the north, is now sold at GH¢25 for a bowl, a GH¢5 increase from the previous amount of GH¢20, with a bag now selling at GH¢850.

Traders concerns 

Traders at the Tamale Aboabo Market are concerned about the impact of the price hikes on their businesses. 

Some of them who spoke to Graphic Business lamented that the surge in prices was affecting their daily sales, thereby threatening their livelihoods. 
Hajia Adiata, a groundnut seller, indicated that the increase in prices was largely due to unavailability, suggesting that food was scarce. 

She said traders now found it difficult to purchase raw food due to its unavailability, a situation, she said, was affecting their businesses. 

“The prices have gone up too high, and customers are complaining, we’re struggling to make sales, and our profits have dwindled significantly,” Hajia Adiata said. 

She added, "Just three weeks ago, we sold a bowl of groundnuts for 30 cedis, but today it is 32 cedis, earlier this year, it was 21 cedis". 

For Hajia Alima, the increase in food prices was a result of the dry spell, which affected yields. She said suppliers were charging more for the little they had in stock to be able to cover up their lost resources. She fears that prices may continue to go up until the next harvest season. 

The increase in prices is taking a toll on residents of Tamale as they struggle to afford staple food. Some residents say it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford basic food items. 

“The prices are too high, and our budgets cannot cover them,” a mother of three said.

Dry spell

The dry spell in the north, which lasted for over two months, has destroyed large quantities of food crops, resulting in reduced crop yields. 

According to the Department of Agriculture, a total of 460,784 hectares of farms consisting of various commodities in the northern region were affected by the dry spell. 

About 425,715 male farmers were affected and 178,714 females, representing sixty per cent (60%) of farmers in the region.

Though the government have promised to support farmers who were affected by the dry spell, the impact of the dry spell on food prices in Tamale is biting harder on both farmers and traders.  As the prices continue to soar, traders and residents in Tamale can only hope for relief.