Ramadan: How fruit sellers make brisk business in Jos
Plateau State is known for its fertility in fruit cultivation, processing and sales/marketing. The state climate and soil condition favour the growing of various fruits, which is hardly grown in other states.
Fruits like cucumber, strawberry, water melon, apple, grape, among others, are cultivated on the Plateau. As a result, many women (mostly) are into fruit buying and selling, and they have been making considerable earnings from it.
Fruit consumption appear to have risen, particularly among the Muslim faithful, who buy them to break their fast during the Holy month of Ramadan.
Our correspondent noticed that fruit sellers have been making brisk business in Jos as a result of the season. Some of the fruit sellers hawk around Terminus market, Dogon Karfe, among other places.
Some stay around places like Old Airport Junction, Minago Road Junction, Building Material, Ring Road, Bukuru, etc.
Fruit buyers troop to the different locations to buy the different fruits of their choices in preparation for breaking of fast. Prominent among the fruits purchased are water melon, pineapple, oranges and date (nut), popularly called dabino.
A fruit seller, Mary John, said since the Ramadan fast commenced, sales have increased and she usually sells out her fruits each day. This, according to her, was unlike before the Holy month.
She explained that before the Ramadan, once it is evening, she hardly cuts a new water melon into smaller parts, because it is perishable once it is cut.
Mrs. John said she sells water melon, cucumber, pawpaw and carrot, adding that from the proceeds she has been able to support her husband in taking care of the family/her children.
Another fruit seller, Esther Yusuf, said she has been selling fruits for over 10 years now, and that at every fasting season, her sales increases.
She said this fasting season was not different in terms of increase in sales, adding that she usually treats all her customers well, whether during fasting or not, and that is why they always patronize her.
She said beside her, other fruit sellers have been making good sales during this period and the turnover has been encouraging.
According to her, water melon is sold at N100 and N200 per piece (depending on the size), pawpaw at N200 and apple at N200 and N250.
Meanwhile, a Muslim faithful, Nura Mohammed, told our correspondent that he consumes fruits more during Ramadan than other times, noting that he mostly buys pineapple, water melon and oranges.
He however pointed out that some fruit sellers have increased their prices even though it is not so much.
On his part, Haruna Yusuf Abba from Angwan Rogo in Jos North, said Ramadan iftar always comes with a quest for water test, so fruits like dates, watermelon, sweet melon and others become so demanding and enjoyable.
Also, Abdulrahman Inuwa from Bauchi Road in Jos, said he consumes watermelon and orange when breaking his fast, stressing that they have health benefits for him.