Rwandan consumers can expect to pay a bit more at city markets for sweet potatoes and fresh peas, as a recent mini-survey by Business Times shows a noticeable increase in prices.

The price of sweet potatoes rose by Rwf150 to Rwf400 per kilogramme in most city markets, up from Rwf250 previously. That of yams increased to Rwf500 a kilo from Rwf300 over the past two weeks, fresh peas increased to Rwf1,800, up from Rwf1,200 per kilogramme and bananas increased by Rwf50 to Rwf400 from Rwf350 in the Kimironko and Nyarugenge markets, respectively.

Damien Hakizimana, a trader in Nyarugenge Market, attributed the increase to low supply from the main producing areas in the Southern and Northern provinces, especially in the districts of Ruhango and Musanze.

Rwanda’s inflation rate inched up to 8.1 per cent in February (year-on-year) compared to 7.4 per cent the previous month, driven mainly by the rising prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the cost of housing, water electricity, gas, other fuels and transport, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda consumer price index monthly report for February, released on Friday.

1 RWF = 0.00121106 USD