Dry Season Ushers in Seasonal Goods

It is Monday January 6 at Marché Congo in Douala. Uche, a 20-year-old trader of Nigerian origin is busily displaying the goods at their shop. The particularity about the day is that he has completely covered the entrance to the shop mainly with fans, even to the detriment of other goods. During the dry season in the economic capital known for its hot climate, city dwellers are forced to buy fans, air conditioners and other assets to regulate the temperature. In the shops are found goods like electronics and household furniture.

Ranging from small table fans sold at FCFA 8000, medium sized ones with stands costing between FCFA 14000 to 25000; while bigger ones are priced as from FCFA40.000, the customers are of different categories. They include individuals in need of regulating the air condition in their houses and/or offices. The other group consists of enterprises with a similar request. The last set of buyers constitutes church groups and associations which go for the bigger fans to place on walls or ceilings.

Other commodities that register heydays during the dry season are sunshades, face caps and hats used to protect the eyes and face from sun rays. As for food items, this period is usually accompanied by a hike in the prices of vegetables and fruits. Talking to some traders at the Douala Central Market, they explain that farmers spend more during this period, which create a resultant increase in the sales price. Extra expenditures like the buying and transporting water to the farms to water the vegetable, the loss registered due to heat that scorches the goods, etc, are advanced as reasons for the scarcity and consequent expensiveness.

Contrary to what is believed by many, car washing and laundry agents complain about a negative impact on their activity. The major point is recurrent water shortages, causing them to spend more in the purchase of water for work. Meanwhile during the rainy season, they usually resort to rain water which is highly economical and beneficial.