Tshikapa, November 12th, 2026 (CPA).-A 28.57% decrease in the price of a bucket of okra has been observed on markets in Tshikapa, in Kasai Province, in the central part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with the price falling from CDF 14,000 to CDF 10,000, the CPA noted Thursday during a market survey. “The price of a bucket of locally produced okra in Kasai has decreased. The price has fallen from CDF 14,000 to CDF 10,000, equivalent to USD 4.35 at an exchange rate of CDF 2,300 to the dollar, on markets in Tshikapa. This decrease is due to the product’s abundance on the market,” said Anne Mbuyi, a vendor of this food product at Tshinza Market. She said the decrease in the price of okra on the market encourages households to purchase this food product regularly. Okra plays an important role in the diet of households in Kasai. It is consumed almost daily, often accompanied by fufu, and constitutes one of the main sources of income for many women traders in Tshikapa’s markets. Its production is mainly ensured by small-scale local farmers who cultivate family plots around the city, she stressed. She added that the current abundance was also due to the harvest season, which is favourable for this vegetable in the region. The increase in market supply automatically leads to lower prices, much to the benefit of consumers.
33.3% increase in the price of a bucket of maize grain
For its part, a 33.3% increase in the price of a bucket of maize grain was also observed on the market, with the price rising from CDF 20,000 to CDF 30,000.“We are deeply concerned to see the price of a bucket of maize increase at our SaisaiMarket in the city of Tshikapa. A bucket of maize that was recently selling for CDF 20,000 now costs CDF 30,000. This negatively affects our daily purchases of a staple food for our households. We confirm that this situation is due to the shortage of sufficient stocks in the various storage depots,” said Mélanie Malumba, a maize grain retailer at the local market in Tshikapa. She called on the public authorities to make efforts to address this problem, which is putting pressure on household budgets.
Maize is a major staple food, consumed by 99% of households in Kasai, particularly in the city of Tshikapa. Price fluctuations have a negative impact on the nutritional living conditions of many households.