New yams flooding the Marine market. Photo: Sunny A. David
By Sunny D. David, Onitsha
New yams have started to appear in various Markets across Anambra State crashing the prices of the produce.
Yam which is one of the most revered farm produce in Igboland is the most popular among the new farm crops.
Our correspondent who visited the Marine Market at Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state where these yams are sold in large quantities reports that the Ikpele Mmili axis of the market witnessed presence of new yams brought from the riverine communities in both Anambra East and West Local Government Areas.
Because new yams mature during the holidays, school children were seen doing brisk businesses off-loading the commodity from canoes to destinations of the buyers.
Apex News gathered from the farmers that there was drastic fall in the cost of yams as against what was sold the few weeks ago.
Speaking on the development, the chairman of Otuocha Modern Market, Mr Udenze Ofordile said that there is bountiful harvest this year because the weather was good as well as the repositioning of the agricultural sector by Governor Willie Obiano who he said has rekindled the interest of many in the sector.
The Chairman Yam Dealers Association of the market, Mr Obalim Mmadubueze told our correspondent that the prices will still come down starting from the end of August to September.
On her part, a yam dealer, Mrs Onyeka Nwafor said even the poor can afford to buy yam this season because according to her, a sizeable tuber now sells for N300 and N400 as against N700 it was sold the previous year.
Meanwhile, prices of sweet potato have also dropped drastically.
