The Warrap state traders union on Tuesday rejected demands by the Kwajok town council authority to reduce market prices.
In a meeting with the union in Kwajok, the council told traders to reduce flour prices from 350 SSP per bag to 250 SSP.
Trader Akech Mayar told Radio Tamazuj that the businesspeople cannot sell at those low prices, citing the wholesale price of a bag of flour as 300 SSP.
“We cannot sell our goods at the prices town council are demanding because it giving us a loss,” Mayar said. “We told them to wait until the rains stop because when there are more goods in the market prices begin to drop.”
Mayar said the muddy roads have limited the quantity of new goods available, forcing up prices. He said the traders have already run out of biscuits, salt, lentils, rice, and beverages, and that the rest of their stock will run out if the rains continue.
Mayar said they will continue selling goods and in the meantime will meet the speaker of the state assembly to discuss the pricing issue.
Kwajok town council head Marthew Akot Ajiec said the traders had been increasing prices since June without notifying them.
Akot said the traders agreed to show the council lists of any new commodities that come into the market because authorities must be briefed on price increases.
He warned traders that goods should not come and go directly to the market without the council’s knowledge.