Matooke prices shoot up in Luwero district

Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Prices for matooke, a staple food for people in Luwero town council have increased over drought and hailstorms that have destroyed plantations.

A bunch of matooke that has been selling for 5000 shillings now costs 15,000 shillings. A bunch that has been selling at shillings 15,000 now costs 35,000 shillings.

This is according to a survey conducted by URN in markets of Kasana, Kasiiso roadside and Luwero central market in Luwero town council. Traders who used to sale bananas on bicycles across the town council are not seen any more because of the shortage .

Deogratius Bukenya, the chairperson of Luwero Central Market says that during the weekend, they had no single bunch of matooke in the market over shortage from farmers.

Bukenya says that farmers in Luwero and Nakaseke districts were affected by drought and hailstorm at the onset of rains leaving plantations destroyed.

He adds that traders have now resorted to look for bananas from Western Uganda but these are bought at expensive costs which explains why they have decided to increase their prices for consumers.

David Musisi, a matooke dealer at Kasiiso roadside market says that he has spent five days without stock. Musisi says that he now survives on his savings over the shortage of banana harvests from farmers.

Samuel Musoke, a farmer at Ndibulungi village in Buntumula sub county says that in the past months, he could produce 20 bunches of bananas per week but this drastically declined to less than 4 bunches because of the conditions.

The most affected farmers are from Kamira, Zirobwe, Kikyusa, Luwero, Makulubita, and Butuntumula which are the largest producers of the bananas. They were hit by drought from March to May whereas others suffered hailstorms in August.

Wilberforce Semigga, the Luwero District Agriculture Officer says that apart from drought and hailstorms, there was low productivity in bananas in past years something that has contributed to recurrent food insecurity.

Semigga says that with support from National Agricultural Advisory Services, the district will distribute over 8000 banana tissue culture plantlets to increase production and stop over-dependence on other districts.

David Kalungi, the Luwero District Secretary for Production says that apart from the donation of banana tissues culture plantlets, the agriculture officers need to advise farmers to embrace modern farming to mitigate the effects of drought on their plantations.

Now consumers have opted for cassava, sweet potatoes, and maize flour among others foodstuffs that have remained cheaper.

The bag of cassava costs only 45,000 shillings whereas sweet potatoes costs between shillings 95,000-110,000 per bag and potatoes dropped from 200,000-150,000 shillings per bag.

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URN