Rice maintains low prices as passion fruit shortage affects supply

Due to increased supply during the month of July, prices of rice have dropped to the advantage of consumers. In Kampala, markets like Nakasero, St Balikudembe, Nakawa and Wandegeya, prices have drastically reduced from an average of Shs2,400 to Shs1,800 per kilogramme.
Pallisa, one of the main rice growing districts, has been the main supplier for at least two months now. It should also be noted that a good portion of the commodity is imported from Tanzania, Kenya Pakistan, South Africa and India among other countries.
However, according to Mr Vincent Muhoozi, a price analyst at Nakasero Market, the current drop will not last because prices are expected to increase due to the rising costs of transport. The unstable fuel prices have as a result impacted on the end product (rice).
He says although there is large supply at the moment, the cost of production might force prices to go up. However, as the rains start, the supply of passion fruits is expected to drop, which subsequently will impact on market prices.

According to Mr Joshua Kayima, a trader at St. Balikudembe Market, whenever there is rain, the supply of passion fruits lowers thus high prices. At the moment, the shortage is slowly beginning to crawl into the market.

According to a Saturday Monitor market survey, there is an indication that the only largely available passion fruits are the ones imported from Kenya, which for that case are even more expensive than the ones from Kasese - one of the main producing areas.