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Food prices continue to rise

13th January 2005

Food prices in Dar es Salaam are continuing to rise since October last year and traders are now linking the trend with the low harvests and poor transportation facilities behind the soaring prices. The prices of food at major market places in Dar es Salaam namely Kariakoo, Tandika and Magomeni have gone up, rice and beans consumers will have to dig deeper in their pockets as the commodities prices have increased almost by 10 per cent.

A survey made by The Express at the Kariakoo market reveals that the food prices increase is mainly attributed to transport costs as the costs have increased by over 20 per cent. The cost of transport is justified by the prices of fuel which of late have hit Tsh.1,000 per litre. A spot survey by this paper revealed, that two important commodities which are favoured by most Dar es Salaam dwellers, rice and beans indicated an increase of over 10 per cent. Part of the increase could have also been temporarily caused by the festive season.

A trader at Kariakoo market who introduced himself by only one name of Mashaka confirmed that the price of rice has gone up from Tsh.725 per kilo wholesale to Tsh.840 retail. Mashaka added that some weeks back, the prices stood at Tsh.640 wholesale and 700 retail. Some of the commodities that showed high price tags include soybeans, Irish potatoes and cow peas. A broker who preferred anonymity said that currently a kilo of beans sales at between Tsh.620 and 660 compared to the previous prices which stood at between Tsh.490 and 540.

"The price of soybeans and cow peas has increased from Tsh.350 to 450 and from Tsh.410 to tsh.540 at whole sale and retail respectively," he said. According to the broker, during the months of December and January saw prices of food skyrocketing because that is the period of ‘scarcity’ and commodity dealers use the little stock they have to extract more money from consumers.

Source: Express Tanzania

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