In markets across Ghana, plantain sellers are rethinking their survival strategies amid wild price swings.
As shifting supply cycles create scarcity in some areas and gluts in others, vendors are expanding their offerings to include yams, maize, and cocoyam. Their goal: to retain loyal customers, stabilise earnings, and avoid tying up scarce capital in overpriced plantain stock.
Food vendor Justina Lamptey, who usually fries plantain for sale, has recently switched her focus.
Lately, theres no plantain, so Ive switched to yam and cocoyam, she explains. Plantain has its seasonwhen its out, prices go up, sometimes to GH�20 for just three. At that rate, I cant make a profit.
She plans to reintroduce plantain to her menu as soon as prices ease.
My profit is higher on plantain than on yam or cocoyam, so Ill add plantain the moment its in season.
Roaster Beatrice Amarh has adopted a rotating menu to manage such risks.
Because plantain is not in season, I only roast yam and maize. There is some plantain in the market, but its very expensive and Id lose profit if I bought it.
Years of trading have taught her to follow the crop calendar closely.
When plantain is in season, maize goes out. When maize is in season, plantain goes out. So I switch depending on whats available.
In Kokomlemle, veteran trader Maa Gifty keeps a small, strategic stock of plantain on handeven during peak price periodsto maintain her higher-spending clientele.
Every year, plantain gets expensive when its out of stock. But this year, its very expensive, she says.
A bunch can cost her GH�40, which she retails at GH�50, leaving a slim GH�10 margin before factoring in transport, fuel, and spoilage.
Many traders drop plantain entirely during these times, but I keep a little. Its the rich people who often buy. One person can take the whole heapI can get GH�300 or GH�200 just like that. Some come from the Industrial Area just to buy from me.
She also gauges customer perceptions carefully.
People feel more satisfied when they buy maize or corn instead of plantain, she notes.
As a result, her stall balances smaller quantities of premium plantain for big spenders with more affordable staples like yam, maize, and cocoyam for general traffic.
For consumers like Thomas Asare, the price pressure is clearly visible.
You go to the market to buy plantainits very expensive. The plantain-and-beans they sell, one is now GH�2 instead of GH�1 or 50 pesewas, he says.
For low-income households trying to stretch weekly food budgets, that price jump is significant.
So the next time you visit your favourite plantain seller, dont be surprised if you leave with less, or none at all.
From yams to maize and cocoyam, Ghanas market traders are diversifying their stock to keep their businesses afloat, and to keep dinner on your table.
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