Rising Food Prices Put Pressure on Households in Pujehun Amid Rainy Season
Rising prices of essential food commodities are putting pressure on households in Pujehun Town as heavy rains disrupt transportation, farming activities and the movement of locally produced food from farming communities to markets.
A visit to markets in Pujehun Town by a Radio Wanjei reporter on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, found increases in the prices of several commonly consumed food commodities, with residents and traders citing transportation difficulties and poor road conditions during the rainy season.
The price increases are adding to the financial pressure on households, particularly families with limited incomes that are already struggling to meet their daily food needs.
Kula Mbogba, a buyer at the Pujehun Market, said the rising cost of basic commodities had made it increasingly difficult for her to provide enough food for her family.
Another resident, Mariama Koroma, said some households had been forced to reduce the quantity of food they buy or switch to cheaper alternatives because of the increases.
Bridget Koroma, also a market buyer, said the money her family normally sets aside for food was no longer sufficient to meet their needs.
The concerns highlight the impact that changes in food prices can have on household purchasing power, particularly during the rainy season when transportation and market access can become more difficult.
Food trader Fatmata Kaikai attributed some of the price increases to higher transportation costs and difficulties reaching farming communities during the rainy season.
She said heavy rainfall and poor road conditions make it more difficult for traders to transport locally produced food from farming communities to Pujehun Town.
According to Kaikai, the challenges can affect both the availability and prices of some food commodities in local markets.
Pujehun is located in Sierra Leone’s Southern Province, where the movement of agricultural produce from rural farming communities to urban markets can be affected by the condition of feeder roads, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Residents and traders are calling for increased support for local farmers, improved feeder roads and better transportation networks to strengthen the supply of food commodities.
They say improved access to farming communities could help traders move agricultural produce more efficiently and increase the availability of locally produced food in Pujehun Town.
Residents believe such measures could also help reduce some of the pressure on household budgets as the rainy season continues.
Similar concerns have been raised in other parts of Sierra Leone. In Kono District, residents have called for the rehabilitation of roads connecting farming communities to markets, saying poor road conditions during the rainy season can disrupt trade and access to essential services.
For Pujehun residents and traders, the immediate concern remains maintaining a reliable supply of affordable food as seasonal transportation challenges continue to affect the local market.