Ministry of Trade (MoT) launched an investigation following a price hike on lentils in the past few weeks, according to Capital.

The investigating committee is composed of experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Addis Ababa and Oromia Trade Bureaus and Consumers’ Association.

The price of lentils which was sold for 28 birr per kilo has climbed to 56 Birr per kilo. Similarly, the price of one kilo of black lentil has shown 20 Birr increment.

While meeting with the Ministry of Trade representatives for consultation, Lentil farmers proposed their question to the government to wipe out brokers who allegedly are behind the price hikes. They also notified the government inadequate water supply, hoarding and disease partially contributed to the price hike.

The investigating committee has travelled to Bekkie (a locality in Oromia region well known for its Lentil production) last week and did a research to find an immediate solution.

Amakele Yimam, Public Relations Head of Ministry of Trade told Capital “The team has observed that some farmers have stopped removing the shells of the Lentil beans to make the red Lentils. However, that won’t have a big impact on the price because most of the farmers deliver what they produce to the market.”

“People wrongly interpret the situation and they said the cause of the hike is lifting the ban on Lentils export. This is false assumption. Lentil is still one of the grains that are banned from export.”

He also noted Lentil price hike is not due to the decrease of the production.

Source: Capital