Commodity Prices Record Mixed Fortunes

In the week ending August 28, the Esoko market report found that prices of some commodities experienced marginal losses while others had some gains.

The highest gain of 16 per cent was made by tomatoes to close the week at GH¢7.60 per “medium size tomato tin,” with fresh cassava also gaining one percentage point to close the week at GH¢3.30.

Cowpea (white) lost three per cent to close the week at GH¢7.50 per olunka. Some commodities like maize and soya beans lost two per cent while imported rice Uncle Sam lost one percentage point.

An olunka of maize costs GH¢5.50 in Kumasi, representing a gain of five per cent. In Takoradi, maize lost nine per cent to close at GH¢5.20 with Techiman also losing 13 per cent to close the week at GH¢3.50.

A “medium size tomato tin” full of fresh tomatoes gained 39 percentage point in Takoradi to close the week at GH¢10.80 with Accra also gaining 34 per cent to close at GH¢9.40.

Also in Kumasi the commodity gained 26 per cent to close the week at GH¢5.00, with Techiman gaining 11 per cent to close at GH¢5.90. In Dambai, however, the commodity gained only six per cent to close the week at GH¢6.70.

Maize

The price for a bag of maize dropped in two markets last week. In Techiman, the price dropped five per cent to close the week at GH¢115.00, with Takoradi also dropping six per cent to close the week at GH¢150.00. Kumasi gained four per cent to close the week at GH¢170.00 from last two week’s price of GH¢163.00

On the retail market the price of a kilo of maize dropped nine per cent in Takoradi to close the week at GH¢2.00, with Techiman losing 13 per cent to close the week at GH¢1.40. Kumasi gained five per cent to close the week at GH¢2.10.

Tomato (Fresh)

A crate of tomatoes gained 44 per cent in Dambai to close at GH¢230.00. In Accra it went for GH¢350.00, rising by 40 per cent from last week's price. Kumasi also gained 33 per cent to close the week at GH¢163.00, with Takoradi gaining 22 per cent to close the week at GH¢260 and Techiman gaining 16 per cent to close the week at GH¢220.00. Bawku also gained six per cent to close at GH¢170.00.

A kilo of tomatoes gained 39 per cent in Takoradi to close the week at GH¢6.00, with Accra dropping 34 per cent to close at GH¢5.20. Kumasi also gained 26 per cent to close at GH¢2.80, with Techiman gaining 11 per cent to close the week at GH¢3.30. Dambai gained six per cent to close at GH¢3.70.

NB: Retail Prices are provided in standard measures (Kgs or Litres) as local measures tend to change for each market.

* Accra market is Agbogbloshie * Kumasi is the Central market.

Source: Daily Graphic