POOR IRRIGATION SYSTEM AFFECTS PRICE OF VEGETABLES IN ENUGU METROPOLIS

With the predominant dry season being experienced at present, vegetable gardens in the country, no longer produce sufficient vegetable due to poor irrigation.

The situation has relatively resulted in increase in prices of some common vegetables such as spinach, garden egg leaves, pumpkin leaves, bitter leaves as well as water leaves.

For instance, a bunch of pumpkin sold between two hundred and two hundred and fifty naira against fifty naira and hundred naira sold some months ago.

A vegetable vendor at new market Enugu, Miss Ukamaka Nwangwu confirmed the increase in prices of vegetables.

``The dry season affected the vegetables but during  the rainy season, the pumpkin leaves grow better. “

Another retailer, who markets her goods at Iva Valley park, Miss Ngozi Egede told business desk that increase in transportation fare also affected the prices of vegetables.

“From Nsukka to Pottery the price is two thousand naira.“

Two buyers who pleaded anonymity explained that buying the commodity  which was essential for human nutrition required extra cash.

They were of the opinion that families should make small gardens around their surrounding as a way of helping themselves and contributing to agricultural development.

BY UJU UMUNNA.