DOLLAR FALLS FOOD PRICES RISE

0
110

Food prices continue to increase in Eastern Equatoria even though the US Dollar exchange rate dropped from 4.5 to 3.9 Pounds in the black market.

Perishable goods became more expensive from Thursday when a new consignment of commodities arrived from neighbouring Uganda and Kenya, Radio Emmanuel reported.

A bag of onions increased from 400 to 600 Pounds in two weeks while a box of tomatoes doubled from 400 to 800 Pounds in Torit vegetable market.

Traders did not import beans and maize flour to finish old storks in the store.

Traders also cut supply of eggs to Torit citing high chances of loss in case of accident, road attacks and bad roads that do not favour safe transport.

Some traders claimed that despite of a cheaper Dollar, goods are much more expensive due to insecurity that scares foreigners from entering with goods in South Sudan.

A recent spate of attacks along Juba-Torit, Juba-Nimule and Torit-Kapoeta roads contributed to the scarcity of goods in the markets leading to a hike on prices.

Abraham Odong, who heads Eastern Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce, attributed inflation to the shortage of Dollars in the area.

He acknowledged a breakdown on supplies and fingered out the inability of most traders to get dollars to import goods and high border taxes as culprits for the hike on prices.