ASABA- Butchers in some major towns in Delta have said that the price of beef is still high.
A survey by newsmen in Asaba revealed that the price of beef remained high, because a big cow in the state sells for about N200, 000.

Some of the butchers, who spoke with newsmen attributed the high cost of beef, caused by the high cost of cows to the scarcity of the animal.

Mr. Charles Okonkwo, a butcher in Asaba said that the North, where they buy cows from, had been experiencing scarcity of the animal for the past three months.

Okonkwo explained that in May, before the scarcity, a big cow was sold for between N100, 000 and N120, 000, adding that it now cost between N150, 000 and N200, 000.

According to him, the high cost of cows has affected our sales, as the increase in the price of beef has drastically reduced the demand for beef.

Mr. John Obi, a meat seller in Asaba told newsmen that the increase in the price of beef had also affected their profit margin.

Obi said: “In order to keep the few customers I have, I give some discount to them.”
Meanwhile, a market survey by the Delta Ministry of Economic Planning, which was made available to newsmen showed that the price of some foodstuff in Delta have remained stable in the past three weeks.

According to the survey, 1kg of frozen fish, which has been selling for N600 in Asaba, Agbor, Sapele and Ughelli, still sells for N600.

The survey also showed that a bag of caprice, which has been selling for N8, 300 in Asaba and Warri for the past four weeks, still sells for N8, 300.

The price of garri has not changed in the past three weeks, as a 3kg of garri, which has been selling for N200 in Asaba and Sapele still sells for N200.

The stability of prices covers such commodity as egg, ogbono and palm oil, which sell for N300 for one dozen, N300 for a milk cup and N6, 500 for 20 litres respectively.

However, the survey showed a slight reduction in the prices of some foodstuffs, as 1kg of fresh vegetable, which was sold for N120 in Asaba and Ughelli, last week, now sells for N100.

The price of bitter leaf, another vegetable, also recorded a slight reduction, as 1kg of bitter leaf, which cost N120 in Ughelli and Asaba, now cost N100.