By Nde Laura
It is a week to the celebration of Christmas and markets across the nation’s political capital, Yaounde are already dancing to the rhythm of the festive period.
At one of the popular markets I visited in Yaounde, “Marche Acacias “, circulation is almost impossible as sellers and buyers have filled the market,
Those I interviewed complained that prices of basic commodities such as tomatoes, cooking oil, rice, chicken, etc have skyrocketed in the market and they fear it may increase in the coming days.
Speaking to a parent at the market, Bikele Maria, said she prefers to buy now to stock at home than to purchase next week as foodstuffs would be more expensive towards the 25th of December.
“ the price of everything has increased as this is the period. A basket of tomatoes used to be 2500frs but now it is 5000frs at least, even for chicken you need to have 7000frs to get a good one when it used to be sold at 4000frs – 5000frs on a normal basis. But I’m doing my Christmas shopping now because I’m sure by next week everything would have increased due to the high demand, even my children’s Christmas dresses I’m just buying them now…I prefer to buy and stock in the fridge,”.
Other buyers said they are not surprised by the increase in prices of foodstuffs as it is expected since this is the time when sellers seize the opportunity to increase prices due to the high demand.
“ I’m here to buy chicken but I can’t get a good one for 5000 FRS, but it is normally most times these sellers increase their prices during the Christmas period because they know we have no choice but to buy, everything is expensive even the toys for children,”. Stella Mbogwe another parent lamented.
The chicken traders on their part said it is due to the high cost of chicken feeds that has pushed them to sell at the said price.
“ feed is expensive, before the chickens reach this stage it needs a lot of feeding and vitamins we cannot sell less than this because we will be losing instead and putting into consideration all the work we do to get them this big,”. a chicken trader told this reporter.
However, shop owners who sell clothes, shoes, and other Christmas decorations are offering discounts and special considerations to customers in other to make quick turnovers.
According to a shop owner, Roland Esono, he is offering a discount of up to 30% on all dresses and shoes in his shop.
“ the discount is just to attract more customers during this period, dropping the price will increase demand and enable me clear stocks, as for the profit I am still going to make profits it is just a way of making high sales,”. He explained.
Despite the Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana’s assurance that there will be no shortages and availability of foodstuffs in the markets during this festive period, basic commodities are available however but the population complained of the high prices.
