Kaduna umbrella vendors celebrate, farmers lament on downpour

The unusually heavy downpour in Kaduna has brought mixed blessings to residents, reports Supreme.

Whereas umbrella sellers in the metropolis say they are experiencing unprecedented boost in sales of their wares, farmers are mourning the loss of their crops damaged by excessive rainfall.

Supreme reports that the month of August records highest rainfall in Kaduna, with an average of 11.8 inches.

Mr Yusuf Samari, an umbrella vendor, said that he made at least N500 gain daily from sales of umbrellas since the commencement of the season.

"A medium-size umbrella sells from N1, 500 to N2, 500 while bigger size costs up to N3,000.

"Before the rainy season, umbrellas sold for N800 to N2500, depending on the size, but the situation is not the same now.

"The cost has risen astronomically this year because rainfall has intensified, thereby raising the demand of umbrellas", he said.

Also, Haruna Musa, another umbrella vendor, said he usually made more sales from customers who were caught up in traffic along major roads within the metropolis.

"I was making between N1, 500 to N3, 000 sales every day before the rains started but now, I make not less than N10, 000.

"Patronage is higher when vendors hawk along the roads than when we stay at our shops waiting for customers to come,'' Musa said.

Another umbrella seller, Ibrahim Sadiq at Kaduna Central market said that although business thrived during other seasons, more sales were recorded during the rainy season, especially in the month of August.

"During the hot season, customers, especially women patronise us to shield themselves from the scorching sun but sales are more during the rainy season.

"Our peak season is raining season and I can make up to N15, 000 to N20, 000 in a week from sales of umbrellas,'' Sadiq said.

Mrs Deborah Nahum, a civil servant, said she purchased umbrella because it had become a necessity as a result of the persistent rainfall, especially in August.

"Even vehicle owners need umbrellas because it is not everywhere that could be accessed with vehicle,'' she added.

Also, Miss Emmanuela Bature, a student, said umbrellas came in handy to avoid missing important appointments.

"I had to purchase a small umbrella to allow me move about and even meet up with my examinations in school,'' she said.

However, farmers, on the other hand, are 'mourning' the 'demise' of a substantial quantity of their produce damaged by excessive rain.

Some of the said that crops that were due for harvest could not be attended to because of the heavy rainfall, and had therefore gotten damaged.

"We need clear weather and dry atmosphere for harvest of rice and maize that were planted early in May this year.

They have matured but because of the rainfall, they remained in the farm and have started spoiling ", said Abdullahi Salihu, a rice and maize farmer in Kaduna.

Another farmer, Usman Aliya, said even the produce that were harvested and taken home, needed sun-rays to dry completely before storage.

"It has been raining cats and dogs' and most of our harvested produce need to be completely dry before storage, otherwise they will spoil if packaged in a sack for long period", he said.