The persistent rainfalls around the country is causing food price hike.

The Price of garri has shot up in Mararaba, a densely populated settlement near the Federal Capital Territory, as a result of the persistent rainfall in various parts of the country.

On Wednesday, a survey showed that the price of the commodity increased by about 20 per cent in the last two weeks.

A dealer at the Mararaba Shopping Centre, Abubakar Tauheed, said the prices of the two varieties of garri – the red and the white one have shot up.

“The red coloured garri, which I bought last week at the cost of N7, 000 per a bag of 60 measures is now N7, 200, while a measure is now N130 from N120.

“The medium bag of the red garri of 50 measures that I bought at N5,500 each is now selling for N5,700 per bag,” he said.

Mr. Tauheed said the producers are blaming the price rise on persistent rainfall.

“They told us that there is no sun to dry the garri,” he said.

Mr. Tauheed said that the current flooding in some parts of the country is not the cause of the price hike.

“Some of us go to Igala land (eastern part of Kogi), while some go to the east part of the country to purchase the product,” he said.

Another dealer, Abdul Abdullahi, said the price hike of the produce is also because of the increase in transportation fare.

“The vehicles we hire to transport the products to the markets have equally increased their charges because of incessant scarcity and increase in the price of fuel as well as the bad roads”.

A house wife and mother of six, Jennifer Onwumere, bemoaned the price hike, saying that something should be done quickly.