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From Desmond Mgboh Kano
The Dawanau Market Development Association (DMDA) has dismissed allegations of hoarding of essential food items leveled against it by the public.
Addressing a media conference on Saturday, the President of the International grains market, Muttaqa Isah stressed that its members purchase in bulk from farmers and sell to big- time dealers from across Nigeria as well as export to some West African Countries, Europe and Asia.
He argued that there was no way they would not afford to hold these goods for a while pending delivery to the actual buyers who sell in smaller quantities to the members of the public
He attributed the prices of food items to market forces resulting from the rise in the prices of fertilizer, pesticides and other farming requirements whose prices have soared very high.
He also lamented that the insecurity in the country, saying that it has affected the production of some crops in some areas of the country
“We travel far and wide to buy these goods from the farmers for which we pay for transportation, the price of which have risen by over 100 percent” he stated.
“The rise in prices of these items that include paddy rice, maize, millet, sesamy, ginger and hibiscus is added by the cost of transporting them from source.
He also called on the Federal Government to intervene by renovating the rail transport system to ease transportation of goods and enhance the activities of the inland dry ports.
“We will continue to try out best as dealers in these essential commodities to ensure that a stop is not only put to the soaring of prices of goods, but is also reduced to the nearest minimum” he added
