MANY Nigerians in Abuja and environs who cannot afford a whole tuber of yam have resorted to buying it in pieces, as prices of food stuff prices soar beyond their means.
A visit to some markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that yam sellers, desirous to make sales, now cut yams in pieces to sell to their customers.
Yam is one of staple foods in Nigeria, but due to the increase in food stuff prices, consumers would rather buy in pieces to quench their appetite.
Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, a popular yam dealer in Dei-Dei Market, said most times they cut yam when it was about to decay as a result of low patronage, adding: “Some consumers will come to request for yam of N1, 000 or even N500, and we are left with no option than to sell the already cut pieces to them; that makes them satisfied.”
Mrs. Blessing Ekong, another yam seller in the market, said the current situation in the country has made it difficult for an average family to afford a big-sized tuber of yam, which costs between N3, 000 and N5, 000.
“Many people no longer buy yam because of the cost. We now cut the yams in pieces and rearrange broken ones to sell at the rate of N500 to N1, 000, depending on the size.
“It also helps us increase sales, because not everyone can afford a medium-sized tuber of yam for N3, 000 or N5, 000. Some food vendors also patronise cut yams.”
Ekong said due to the current economic situation in the country, some people are afraid of buying a big tuber only to discover that some part of the yam is bad, noting: “It will be very painful to experience such a waste. That is one of the reasons many now buy pieces of yam.”
Ekong said it was difficult to sell a tuber of yam for N1,000 because farmers now sell small tubers between N1,500 and N2, 500.
Mrs. Blessing Hassan, a yam consumer, said with the present situation in the country, buying yam in pieces was the best option, adding: “I prefer to buy it in pieces because it is cheaper and in most cases, I can see clearly if the yam is spoilt or not.
“Sometimes, I will buy a good looking yam only to go home to discover that it is spoilt.”
Another yam seller, Mrs. Peter Kalu, said many people no longer buy yam because of the high cost and that cutting yam into pieces helps to increase their sales because many people prefer it that way.
“We cut them to pieces, depending on the size, and resell them in a way people can afford, so many people now prefer cut yams,” she said.
