By:Nyima Sillah
As the Holy Month of Ramadan commenced last Friday both sellers and buyers especially women doing shopping in Serrekunda market are now experiencing the scarcity of Irish potato in the market.
Abdoulie Jallow a shop owner in Serrekunda market said the scarcity of Irish potato has nothing to do with covid-19 because the demand is always high every period of Ramadan, especially in the early days or begins of the Holy Month of Ramadan.
He said people always blame sellers for the scarcity thinking they always hide their commodities which is opposite.
Like other businesses, he said covid-19 affect their business, too, because sales this year compared to previous years is quite different and the time given them to operate is not favorable because at that time, the market is always full. “And people don’t exercise social distancing because everyone rush to buy before the market will close,” he said.
Adam Njie consumer said she bought all her food items but the only items lacking is Irish potato and tomato paste because she went round the market but couldn’t have any of those items, as she was told that those items are lacking in the market.
Apart from scarcity of Irish potato and tomatoes, she affirmed that prices of food items are stable; possibly, she said traders are currently abiding with the press release issued by the government in regards to the price ceiling.
Meanwhile, Ebriama Mbaye assure of influx of potato in the market soon while he appealed to the government to reconsider the opening and closing hours of the food vendors because market is always congested in the morning when everyone because people always rush to buy before closing hour.