The price of onions has risen sharply in the state of Darfur amid a shortage of the vegetable that is consumed extensively in the region. The Ministry of Finance in Khartoum has acknowledged that prices for consumer goods soared by 100 per cent in the current quarter.
Traders in Darfur told Radio Dabanga that there is a severe shortage in spite of lorry-loads of onions arriving from Omdurman and other parts of Sudan. They explain that the shortage is seasonal - it is the end of the current season for onions and the beginning of the next planting season in Darfur. There is not enough local production to meet daily consumption.
The price of a malwa [3.145 kg] of onions to consumers in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, has risen to SDG 150 ($3.15) and in the North Darful capital of Nyala, the price has risen to SDG 100 ($2.10).
According to allafrica.com, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs at the national Ministry of Finance in Khartoum, Adil Abdelaziz, has acknowledged the increase in commodity prices by 100 per cent during the current quarter of this year, negatively affecting the various levels of Sudanese society.
