Mixed feelings have greeted the crash in the prices of Abakaliki rice ahead of Christmas celebration.

While the rice farmers and millers are lamenting the crash in the price and low patronage, buyers are relieved and happy about the development.

Recall that since September 2019 that the Federal Government closed its borders, the prices of Abakaliki rice and other commodities increased. But surprisingly the price of Abakaliki rice suddenly cashed in the eve of yuletide.

The farmers and the millers said they had expected to record good sells of the commodity and made corresponding gains, but that the reverse had become the case.

They, however, attributed the crash in the rice price to non-payment of workers’ salaries in the state. Ebonyi state government had suspended workers’ salaries for two months to ensure that every issue about bank verification was rectified.

A visit to Abakaliki Rice Mill indicated that a 25kg bag of rice which was previously sold between N7, 000 and N8, 000 is currently sold between N6,000 and N7,000.

“Because of this, demand for Abakaliki rice became very high. People from different parts of the country started rushing it. The price increased immediately from N5, 000 to N7, 000 and even N8, 000 per bushel (N25kg).”