Price of local rice has continued to rise in markets, especially with the emergence of Coronavirus pandemic, leaving consumers worse off as the commodity is among the staple foods in this part of the world.
Correspondent Emmanuel Okonkwo who monitored the recent hike in prices of the commodity reports that in this part of the world, rice which can be prepared as jellof, fried, or even white rice and stew, is given much attention, as it is a must cook for virtually every Nigerian family mostly on Sundays, and maybe once or twice within the week, because of how children mostly, and some adults value the food.
When the ABS monitored the prices of the commodity at rice milling company at Agu-Awka, it was observed that a fifty kilogram bag of local rice is now sold for twenty-two thousand naira against the initial price of fifteen thousand naira, while twenty-five kilogram, previously sold for eight thousand naira is now eleven thousand naira, ten kilogram sold for three thousand, five hundred naira is presently four thousand, five hundred, and five kilogram is now two thousand, five hundred naira instead of the former price of two thousand naira.
At Eke-Awka market, the price of the commodity is slightly higher as fifty kilogram bag of local rice is now sold for twenty-five thousand naira against the initial price of fifteen thousand naira, while twenty-five kilogram previously sold for eight thousand, five hundred naira is now twelve thousand naira , ten kilogram, sold for three thousand naira is presently four thousand, five hundred, and five kilogram is now two thousand, five hundred naira instead of the former price of two thousand naira.
It was also observed that a cup of local rice which was previously sold for fifty naira is now between ninety and hundred naira, while a painter sold between one thousand one hundred naira, and one thousand two hundred naira is now one thousand eight hundred.