Farmers can make an extra penny this Christmas

Prices of foodstuffs have gone up and are likely to double as people do last-minute shopping. A bunch of matooke now costs between Shs15,000 and Shs20,000 in St Balikuddembe (Owino) and Nakasero markets, while clusters go for Shs10,000 to Shs17,000 in Kalerwe and Kasubi markets.

As people hit the streets to do last-minute shopping during this season, prices of food, merchandise and services have already been hiked.
Food items are topping shopping lists, an opportunity farmers should exploit to make an extra penny, especially after a year which has been characterised by drought that caused massive loses.
“If farmers can get in more food, we hope to make more money than before because whatever we purchase from them (farmers) is bought wholesomely,” William Mayambala, a matooke (banana) trader at Veterans Market along Kafumbe Mukasa Road says.
Although people are now travelling upcountry, Mr Mayambala says the demand for food has increased because urban dwellers are taking it back to the villages. “With the prolonged drought that has hit some parts of the country, some villages have suffered food shortage.
So food is among those things being packed by people headed upcountry,” he explains. At Christmas, every product produced from the garden including banana fibres and leaves, is bought.
Prices of foodstuffs have gone up and are likely to double as people do last-minute shopping. A bunch of matooke now costs between Shs15,000 and Shs20,000 in St Balikuddembe (Owino) and Nakasero markets, while clusters go for Shs10,000 to Shs17,000 in Kalerwe and Kasubi markets.
A kilogramme of fresh beans and cowpeas costs between Shs1,500 and Shs2,000 and Shs2,000 to Shs2,500 respectively. A sack of Irish potatoes is at Shs80,000 while a 100kg sack of rice goes between Shs220,000 and Shs240,000.

Vegetables are also attracting good prices in all markets; if farmers make a good survey of where to sell their produce, they will definitely double their earnings.
Since Ugandans seem to hahave adopted better feeding habits, the demand for vegetables has increased in both urban and rural markets. A bundle of vegetables costs between Shs10,000 and Shs20,000 and is expected to rise.

Similarly, price tags of birds and animals have increased. Local chicken prices now range from Shs12,000 to Shs20,000 in all markets. Broilers and off-layers go for Shs5,000 and Shs10,000 respectively while the cost of a kilo of beef has risen from Shs5,000 to Shs6,000.

Since most families have to buy either chicken or meat or both, the demand for both commodities is likely to rise. This gives farmers an opportunity to sell off those animals that are less productive. Some farmers have already raked in handsome amounts after selling off their stocks and crops.

Ms Grace Najjuma, a poultry farmer in Kalagi, sold over 300 local chicken at Shs10,000 and Shs12,000 each last week.
“It is during this period that I normally sell all my stock at once and get paid immediately,” says Najjuma, who has reared birds for seven years.She expects to sell off more 200 chickens before the year ends.