Prolonged heat in Ntungamo has reduced banana production, driving up the price of matooke, the local staple.
Farmers in the district report that the high temperatures have shortened the growing season and produced smaller banana bunches, limiting the supply available to traders.
As a result, the price of small matooke bunches, which previously sold for between Shs5,000 and Shs7,000, has risen to about Shs20,000. Larger bunches that once cost around Shs15,000 are now fetching between Shs30,000 and Shs40,000.
Traders in Ntungamo are struggling to meet demand with the shrinking supply, and consumers are facing higher costs for this essential food item.
Article source: nilepost.co.ug | Image credit: nilepost.co.ug