The Cassava Traders’ Association (CTA) in Niger has decried the continuous increase in price of cassava in Minna.
The association’s Secretary, Mr Emeka Animekwe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that a pick-up load had increased from N100,000 in October 2016 to N130,000 in January 2017.
“In the past, a pick-up load was shared into 19 heaps for N 6,000 each, but now a pick up load is N130,000 and is shared into 25 places for N6,000 a heap.
“Garri was sold for N250 a measure before Christmas, but it is now N500 a measure now. Similarly, cassava floor is now N300 a measure.
“This situation is unbearable, we are suffering. We are not making any profit on this business any longer.
“The prices of cassava byproducts have quadrupled and this is dangerous for food security in the nation,’’ Animekwe said.
He calked on the state government to assist the traders with soft loans to farm in the 2017 planting season.
Amimekwe said that the cassava traders also wanted to farm cassava, adding that government should encourage them by giving them all the necessary support.
“With soft lo ans, we as cassava traders can go into farming. We will have enough to purchase fertilisers and do mechanised farming to have a bumper harvest,’’ Animekwe added.
BY NAN
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