Business activities at the Bor main market. [Gurtong/ Jacob Achiek Jok]
By Jacob Achiek Jok
BOR, 31May 2012 [Gurtong] - Food prices have doubled from the start of this year.
Prices of some essential foodstuffs have tripled with a 50 kilogramme bag of maize floor going for 230 South Sudanese Pounds up from 85 South Sudanese Pounds.
The price of a 25 kilogramme bag of beans has shot up from 75 South Sudanese Pounds to 150 South Sudanese Pounds while a 50 kilogramme bag of rice now costs 150 South Sudanese Pounds from 100 South Sudanese Pounds.
The cost of drinks has also gone up with a soda bottle going for 4 South Sudanese Pounds up from 2 South Sudanese Pounds and a water bottle at 2 South Sudanese Pounds.
Bor business community has accused the state government of the price increments.
“The closure of the road from Sudan has led to the scarcity of commodities and the subsequent dependence on imports from Kenya and Uganda”, a Sudanese retailer at Marol market Idris Mohammad told Gurtong.
The traders have called for tax waivers in the wake of the high commodity prices.