As Ramadan fasting enters the fourth day, dealers in fruits say the business is booming as prices remain stable in Enugu State, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN survey showed on Thursday that the period of Ramadan has invariably increased the demand for different fruits in major markets in Enugu.
Some dealers in major markets in the State told NAN that consumption of fruits had increased as Muslim fasting started, with increase in patronage, saying this would be the trend throughout the period.
Miss Agnes Obiozor, who is a retailer in watermelon at New Market, expressed joy over the quick turnover in her fruit business since the Ramadan began.
“I am the happiest lady, especially since the fasting period started because I hardly satisfy all my customers these days.
“The Ramadan season had boosted my sale and on daily basis I make nearly N6, 000 before closing for the day.
“As a retailer, I sell in bits by cutting them in different sizes and that are sold for N100 or N200, depending on their sizes.
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“I usually buy different sizes of watermelon at different rate as the big one goes for N600, the medium for N450 and the smallest is between N200 and N250, depending on my power of bargaining ,’’ Obiozor said.
Mrs Ada Anyanwu, another fruit dealer at Garki Market along Agbani road, said that the prices of fruits were still stable for now, adding that the prices might increase in some days to come.
Anyanwu said that fruits hardly went bad in her shop since the beginning of the Ramadan period, attributing the situation to increase in patronage by Muslims.
Miss Uche Anadu said the price of an orange bag, which was sold for N2,400 two months ago, had not increased, adding that the prices of pineapple, banana, water melon, paw-paw had also gone up.
“The prices of pineapple and paw-paw depends on their sizes as the big size goes for N300, the medium size stands between N150 and N200, the smallest still remains at N80 as a sizable bunch of banana goes for between N550 and N650,” Anadu said.
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She said that the prices of paw-paw were the same as pineapple, depending on their sizes.
Mr Adamu Alhasan, a consumer, said that he needed to buy fruits for breaking of his fasting, adding that fruits served as appetiser.
Mr Emenike Ibrahim said that fruits helped him to regain lost nutrients at the time after fasting.
“Eating fruits like watermelon, banana and orange helps me a lot because I get most nutrients from them,” Ibrahim said. (NAN)
