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Momodou
Denmark
11827 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Apr 2012 : 14:12:18
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Foroyaa Burning Issues: The High Cost of Living
By Mariama Ceesay
19-04-12
The upward hike of the price of rice, the staple food in the Gambia is a concern to many consumers in the Gambia prompting this reporter to visit the markets in the Greater Banjul Area especially to talk to dealers in food stuffs.
Muctarr Phall, a retailer at Latrikunda market explains to this reporter that he gets his goods from the wholesalers in Latrikunda. He said that he cannot afford to buy from Banjul and transport it to his shop in Latrikunda. He said the cost of rice is not stable which makes investment to purchase rice for sale a very risky business. He argued that they buy at a high cost and whenever there is a fluctuation of prices downwards they become the losers. When the price comes down they eventually experience losses. Another dealer in Latrikunda market Karamo Sawaneh stated that he gets his goods from retailers who buy from Banjul commodities he sells. He said he sells the local onions, a 30 kilogram bag for D470. “It is very hard for us to know our profit as the price is not stable,” stated this retailer.
Karamo stated that the local potatoes and onions gets rotten very easily; that they are selling the home grown ones for D20 per cup and D30 respectively. He explained that the imported onions are normally 18 kilogramme per bag but almost 3 kilos would be rotten and only 15 kilos would be left to sell.
Another businessman Alhagie Jallow stated that everything they sell is bought from another businessman who also gets it from another wholesaler. He said it is those wholesalers who buy from importers in Banjul to make profit but pay transportation and sell it to them. He said he deals with rice, Maggie, tomato paste, oil, milk but never goes to Banjul because he cannot buy a large quantity. He said he buys from wholesalers in the market. According to him they have given names to the different varieties of rice. American rice costs D900 for a bag, Saddam costs D1200 and Bongo fish costs D850. Karamo, a retailer said he also sells to other retailers but was quick to say that they think his price is high. He said he wants to let them know it is not him but those at the wholesale level.
Another dealer at Latrikunda, Alhajie Mamma Kunneh who describes himself as a new businessman said he has just started the trade for1 year 3 months now. He said the provisions he has are rice, oil, tea, potatoes, onions, vinegar, soap, Attaya and tomato paste; that he gets his rice for D950 and sells it for D975. He said he gets his oil for D960 for the carton which has four gallons in it and they sell it for D250 per gallon. “We buy the big carton of Mustard for D250 and sell it on retail for D50 each. We sell the small carton for D25 each”, said this dealer in food stuffs.
“From the middle men we get the small mustard for D250 and they get it from importers at a price of D240. For the oil right now is expensive the gallon is costing us D860 and we sell it for D875 and make a profit of D15 when we sell at D10 by cup,” said Alhajie Mamma Kunneh, a retailer at Latrikunda market.
Kunneh said they have big constraints; that the prices of goods are not stable. He explained that you can buy something now for D30, the following day the price goes up. He said that is one of their big problems. “Sometimes you buy something at a very high price only for the price to come down the next day. You have to bring your price down so that the little profit you make can be used to top up the cost to secure enough funds for a new consignment of goods. So we are just working and expecting that things will be better someday but it is really hard for us,” explained Alhajie Mamma Kunneh, a retailer at Latrikunda market.
Source: Foroyaa
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2012 : 16:50:41
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This is a problem facing many countries,common factors,weather,rising cost of raw materials,general cost of living increases,taxes,fuel costs and an often neglected IMPORTANT factor, transport costs brought about by the exorbitant increases in prices by the oil producing countries,MOST of which have regimes that are not democratic but the land of which is usually barren and who rely heavily on imported goods,which are paid for in US $s.(the currency of Oil sales.)
EVERY country needs fuel for transport so vastly increased costs in fuel has a knock on effect of everything.
quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Foroyaa Burning Issues: The High Cost of Living
By Mariama Ceesay
19-04-12
The upward hike of the price of rice, the staple food in the Gambia is a concern to many consumers in the Gambia prompting this reporter to visit the markets in the Greater Banjul Area especially to talk to dealers in food stuffs..................................................
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2012 : 20:43:13
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Yes the High Cost of living is a Global problem. However we all have to make adjustments. That is way Jammeh called for the back to land initiative. Many people criticized the policy in the 0's. Now there needs to be a revision alongside more public information about nutrition. Tastes need to change. The high consumption of rice in Gambia is not good for Public Health because it increases High blood pressure. How many times do you hear people complaining about being fed up of eating rice? When Farmers could grow alternatives such as millet, potatoes, yam, cassavas, tomatoes, onion,sand plantains which yields and health benefits far better than rice.
As for sugar we all know that having too much sugar is not good for us with negative side effects like diabetes. A change in diet will also reduce health costs. Therefore I would suggest instead of getting stressed about what people don't have it is vital for Health,Environment Agriculture,Education and Financial Sectors in Gambia to devise programmes geared towards finding a solution in reducing life morbidity and malnutrition.
By concentrating on policies which will increase the awareness and availability of quality of nutritional foods in Gambia. In addition to these policies could also create much needed jobs across the Sectors. Thus assisting Gambia to reach its MDG goals.
After all Gambia cannot afford to import food it can grow itself. If it cannot grow its staple foods then it will need to change its preference by eating what it grows. |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 21 Apr 2012 20:48:03 |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2012 : 20:53:32
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You got the job then Sister O ?  |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 21 Apr 2012 20:54:03 |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2012 : 21:42:35
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 Toubab you know how it goes some Civil Servant or another will browse the bantaba cull a few ideas. The next thing you know it's in the news as that person's "New Idea!". When in fact they plagiarized it. Then maybe a month or even a year they will be in post. Until someone smells a rat. They get the sack etc etc.
When in fact the originator of the idea was Sister Omega or Turk. Toubab or Moe,Momodou,Sab any of the other Commentators here. You get my drift. So if his Excellency wants to offer me a job. He has means to contact me as I have never had communication from him. I won't hold my breath.I will continue to contribute to the debates because I want to see Gambia's sustainable development prosper and in my small way to make the world as a whole a better place. I suspect a lot us also want the Common Good to prevail!  Right |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 21 Apr 2012 21:52:33 |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2012 : 22:57:57
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Yeah right on Sister O, you are the man,great,seriously it interests me,
"because I want to see Gambia's sustainable development prosper and in my small way to make the world as a whole a better place. I suspect a lot us also want the Common Good to prevail! Right " 
Exactly my thoughts too, perhaps we are not wasting our time after all, 
I am also happy that you understood the toubab humour when I wrote "You got the job then Sister O ? " followed by a |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 21 Apr 2012 22:59:41 |
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