As food prices continue to soar, many residents of Abuja and its environs are resorting to buying yams in pieces instead of whole tubers.
This trend is evident in various markets across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where yam sellers have adapted to the economic situation by cutting yams into smaller, more affordable portions.
A visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to some FCT markets on Thursday revealed that yam sellers, eager to maintain sales, are now offering yams in bits to cater to the financial constraints of their customers.
Yam, a staple food in Nigeria, has become increasingly expensive, pushing consumers to opt for smaller portions to manage their budgets.
Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, a prominent yam dealer at Dei-Dei market, explained that cutting yams into pieces is often a necessity, especially when the yams are nearing decay due to low patronage.
“Some consumers will come to request for yam of N1,000 or even N500, and we are left with no option than to sell the already cut pieces to them; that makes them satisfied,” Tanko said.
Mrs. Blessing Ekong, another yam seller at Dei-Dei market, noted that the current economic conditions have made it difficult for an average family to afford a large tuber of yam, which costs between N3,000 and N5,000.
“Many people no longer buy yam because of the cost. We now cut the yams in pieces and rearrange broken ones to sell at the rate of N500 to N1,000, depending on the size.
It also helps us increase sales because not everyone can afford a medium-sized tuber of yam for N3,000 or N5,000. Some food vendors also patronise cut yams,” she explained.
Ekong highlighted that buying yam in pieces helps consumers avoid the risk of purchasing a large tuber only to find that a significant part of it is spoiled.
“It will be very painful to experience such a waste. That is one of the reasons many now buy pieces of yam,” she said.
Mrs. Blessing Hassan, a yam consumer, echoed this sentiment, saying that buying yam in pieces is the best option given the current economic climate.
“I prefer to buy it in pieces because it is cheaper and in most cases, I can see clearly if the yam is spoilt or not. Sometimes, I will buy a good-looking yam only to go home to discover that it is spoilt,” she added.
Another seller, Mrs. Peter Kalu, confirmed that the high cost of yams has deterred many people from buying whole tubers. She stated that cutting yams into pieces not only makes them more affordable but also boosts sales as more people prefer to buy in smaller quantities.
“We cut them to pieces depending on the size and resell them in a way people can afford, so many people now prefer cut yams,” Kalu said.
