Cold weather inflates banana prices in Dar
DAR ES SALAAM: BANANA prices at Dar es Salaam’s Mabibo Market have surged from an average of 35,000/- to 60,000/- per bunch, mainly due to the current cold season affecting key bananaproducing regions. Cooler temperatures have slowed banana plant growth and delayed fruit development, reducing harvest volumes and tightening supply in the market.
This shortage has put pressure on traders and consumers alike, as the higher prices affect affordability and availability. Market vendors expect prices to remain elevated until weather conditions improve and production levels return to normal.
Banana vendor at Mabibo Market, Ms Rose Mkundi said price variations are closely linked to seasonal supply. During the cold months of June to August, bananas from Moshi-Kilimanjaro and Tukuyu-Mbeya become scarce, pushing prices higher.
A Daily News spot survey at the market shows that a bunch of Mshale bananas from Moshi sells for 50,000/- to 60,000/- while Bukoba bananas range between 30,000/- to 40,000/- and Mzuzu bananas for 35,000/- to 45,000/-.
However, during harvest season, prices drop significantly, with Mshale bananas falling to between 25,000/- and 40,000/- per bunch. A Fuso truck driver, Mr Goodluck Junior, said transport costs from Tukuyu to Dar es Salaam vary by truck size but have minimal impact on final banana prices at the market.
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Large trucks cost around 2.5m/-, medium-sized ones range between 1.8m/- and 1.85m/-, while smaller trucks are priced between 1.5m/- and 1.55m/-.
“Our prices are mostly fixed and not heavily affected by seasonal changes, though they may vary slightly due to occasional truck shortages from the farms to Dar es Salaam,” he said.
On his part, Mr Henry Mwambingua – vendor, said Bukoba bananas currently sell for 30,000/- to 40,000/- per bunch, while Mzuzu bananas range between 35,000/- and 45,000/-. He noted that from midAugust to October, markets are flooded as farms ripen simultaneously, reducing demand and leading to losses.
“But from November to December, business picks up again,” he added.
On her part, Mama Rehema told the Daily News that in the “loss season” between August and November, a bunch of Bukoba bananas drops to as low as 14,000/-, 15,000/-, or 16,000/-.
“The hot season makes bananas grow in large quantities and flood the market,” she said.
However,vendors still face challenges, including paying trucks’ drivers and traders in advance before the trucks leave the farms, dealing with unfaithful or unreliable customers who fail to pay within the agareed rental period and incurring losses when bananas arrive in poor condition either shrivelled or overripe.
