Increased supply of the seasonal crops was registered in most markets especially in southern Karamoja where better yields were registered compared to the northern Karamoja. Several transit traders were seen in the region ferrying sorghum and maize due to the abundant supply currently held by the farming community. Stockiests were also reported collecting grain that was recently harvested.
Prices in Amudat district were recorded low due to a seasonal harvest going on. Maize was reported during the month of September at less than Ugx.1800-2000/can weighing 3.5kgs. A better maize yield was received compared to last year’s season. Less demand for maize was reported during market days because several households had maize in their stock due to the recent harvest. A bag of maize weighing 100kgs cost Ugx.50, 000 at wholesale. There was no maize offered during market days because it was demanded less. K-20 beans were offered at Ugx.3500-4000/kg.
Animals on sale in Amudat district were very expensive during the month of September. Big bulls cost Ugx.2M. Medium sized bulls cost Ugx.1.5M. Very few animals were offered for sale.
Charcoal prices were stable given the availability of the seasonal harvest.
Harvesting was reported to have ended faster in Nakapiripirit district making available to stockists/traders commodities such as sorghum, maize, some beans, cassava, matooke and rice. The maize grain price further declined to Ugx.2000/can compared to the previous month’s price of Ugx.2500/can weighing 3.5kgs.
More maize was delivered to markets in Nakapiripirit district because harvesting was done first. Sorghum prices also declined from Ugx.2500/can weighing 3.5kgs to Ugx.2000/can weighing the same. Beans were scarce on the market, however, the market received some K20 beans harvested from within the district and offered at Ugx. 2000/kg. Other varieties were more expensive such as Kanyeebwa and green beans retailing at Ugx.5000/kg.
Other fresh food items such as Matooke, Irish, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, onions and cassava were delivered from Mbale and Sebei. Irish potatoes cost Ugx.2000/kg. A bag of fresh cassava cost Ugx.70,000. Unlike August, very few cattle transit traders turned up to the livestock market due to the high animal prices offered. Therefore, after delivering a number of food commodities to the district, they resorted to ferrying sand.
The current hot climate experienced throughout the month of September rendered the seasonal harvest ready for the market. Cheaper commodities were registered in Kotido district. Sorghum was offered at Ugx.1300/jug weighing 2.2kgs while maize was offered at Ugx.1500/kg. This might as well be the cheapest grain price for the region. Traders from outside the region camped in the district and loaded plenty of sorghum to different markets.
Beans were, likewise, very expensive in Kotido district delivered from Mbale at Ugx.4500-5000/kg retail price.
In the livestock market, meetings were held to try and open other trade routes for transporting cattle out of the region given the fact that Kotido is the highest cattle trade market in the region. However, permission was denied due some raiding cases reported between Napak and Kotido. Big bulls were offered at Ugx.2,000,000 while medium sized bulls cost Ugx.1.2M-1.5M per head. Medium sized goats and sheep were offered at Ugx.150,000 and Ugx.130,000 respectively.
A fair seasonal harvest was observed during the month of September in Nabilatuk district. Maize grain price was registered high during the month of September at Ugx.2700-3000/can weighing 3.5 compared to other central Karamoja districts. Good sorghum yield was observed from August to September. The price dropped to Ugx1500/can, however it steadily increased to Ugx.3000/can during September. Several agents bought sorghum for Nile Breweries.
Low livestock trading was observed in Nabilatuk district during the month of September. Medium sized bulls were equally expensive at Ugx.1.2M-1.3M. Goats and sheep cost Ugx.100,000-150,000.
Unlike the other districts in Karamoja region, Kaabong and Karenga districts registered low production during this year’s seasonal harvest. The harvest was short-lived with less maize and sorghum. The northern part of the region also had challenges of wild animals’ descending on crop plantations near the animal sanctuary. Food supply will be expected from within the region and the main trade routes via Soroti and Mbale. Maize price was recorded stable compared to August commodity outlook at Ugx.3500/can weighing 3.5kgs. Sorghum price declined slightly from Ugx.3500/can to Ugx.3000/can weighing 3.5Kgs. Super rice was offered at the highest price in the region, ie Ugx.6000/kg retail price. Fresh cassava was also reported highly priced at Ugx.3000/ heap.
The dry weather was reported earlier than usual in August, rendering less food yield in Kaabong district. Only those who planted crops along river banks could register some yield.
Very few animals were offered for sale during market days. The livestock offered was very expensive. Big bulls cost Ugx.2.5M while medium sized bulls were offered at Ugx.1.7M.
Harvesting was reported in Karenga district especially for maize and beans. The maize price declined as indicated in the spreadsheet. The seasonal crop was also highly affected by the invasion of wild animals.
A slight reduction in the livestock price of Napak district was reported especially for Medium sized bulls from Ugx.1.2-1.5M to Ugx.1.1-1.2M per head. Apparently, Napak registered similar food commodity prices at Ugx.2500/can weighing 3.5kgs for sorghum. Maize was recorded stable and in some instances at an increasing price of Ugx.3000/can. Beans were likewise expensive at Ugx.4000/kg.
The reduced grain commodity prices reflected during the month of September indicate that the harvesting season intensified then. Sorghum was recorded at Ugx.2000/can weighing 3.5kgs while the maize price altered between Ugx.2500-3000/can weighing 3.5kgs. Super rice was offered cheaper at Ugx.4000/kg retail price while in the fresh commodity section stable prices were recorded.
There was limited livestock trading reported during the month due to high livestock prices offered. On average only two trucks were registered during market days. Animals were registered more expensive in the district of Moroto. Bulls cost Ugx.2.7-3M while Medium sized bulls at Ugx.1.5-1.8M per head. Heifers cost Ugx.1M and medium sized sheep and goats cost Ugx.140,000-180,000 per head.
Farmgain Africa.