Agricultural produce, especially poultry and fruits, are in high demand during the ongoing Muslim fasting also known as Ramadan as buyers and sellers admit high patronage which a nutritionist, Hajiya Fati Abubakar, attributed to good knowledge on diet among the populace.

She said people are increasingly becoming aware of the benefits and importance of fish, poultry and fruits as against concentrating on heavy foods, adding, "it is amazing when you go out in the evening and you see people buying fruits, fish, poultry for consumption rather than the usual junk and heavy food. People are becoming more aware of what to eat and at the right time."

DailyTrust reporters who visited some joints, markets and eateries in Abuja, Kano, Damaturu and Ilorin report that poultry products and fruits are on high demand especially by people who use them to break their fasting or for sahur early in the morning.

At a popular joint at the Federal Housing, Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory, Ya'u Laban who sells fresh fish and Inuwa Yahaya who deals in live chicken said at separate interviews that they have recorded increases in their sales since the fasting started.

In Kano the consumption of roasted chicken and roasted meat popularly known as Suya during the Ramadan period has also increased,as those running such joints have been making good sales since the commencement of the fast.

According to the proprietor of a popular chicken joint, Rahama Suya, Alhaji Yusuf Rahama, he has recorded increase in the sale of roasted chicken and Suya. He added, however, that the increases were not as high as expected. He explained that the increase in the consumption of roasted chicken is connected to its affordability this year as against last year's Ramadan.

"We sell roasted chickens in two categories; the local breed and agric or poultry breed. We roast the local breed chickens in a local way while we roast the agric breed in the oven.

"Before the Ramadan period we used to sell 200 to 250 chickens a day but the Ramadan fast started sales have increased to above 350," said Yusuf Rahama.

A visit to some of the roasted chicken joints revealed that one roasted local breed chicken is sold at N500 and the agric or poultry variety N1,000. It has become a common scene in the state to see buyers crowding most of the joints buying roasted chicken, some in bulk.

In Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, despite the insurgency, people are going about their normal business during the ongoing fasting even though the prices of fruits and other agricultural products have recorded slight increase in the state.

DailyTrust correspondent who went round to survey prices in the fruits market reports that marketers have increased prices by almost 30 percent as watermelon that sold for N200 before the fasting started now sells for about N300. The same increase is applicable to other fruits in the market.

Malam Usman Abubakar, a fruits dealer along Maiduguri road, said that the increase in the price of the commodity is as a result of transportation cost, adding, that "the commercial vehicles transporting fruits to Yobe and Maiduguri are charging exorbitantly and at times the fruits will arrive Damaturu half rotten."

He said that most times they relied on fruit dealers from the eastern part of the country but the price remained high, saying, "because, when you put together the costs of transportation, accommodation and the risks, it is better you buy from the dealers and add your little profit."

A truck driver told DailyTrust correspondent that only brave drivers risked the northeast routes due to the fear of insurgency and extortion by security agents at the several checkpoints, adding, that "it takes a courageous driver to ply this road from the east due to uncertainty. Despite that, we always 'shake' hands with security agents at checkpoints to avoid embarrassment and waste of time. So, at the end of it all you will realise that much has been spent on the road. And all this must be added to the cost," he said.

In Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as the Ramadan progresses, the common fruits many people use in breaking their fast are oranges, banana, watermelon and dates.

Investigations by Daily Trust however indicate that there is scarcity of oranges in the metropolis while the few marketers who have the fruits sell them at exorbitant prices.

For instance, small oranges go for N20 each with three pieces sold for N50 which residents say is expensive compared to when it was sufficiently available. A resident, Malam Ismail Alaya, said, "I will prefer to break my fasting with watermelon or other available fruits because it appears this is not the season for oranges. The oranges you see around here are tiny and they are not really sweet."

Many Muslims also enjoy breaking their fast with bananas although it is also found to be very expensive in the state. A bunch of bananas is presently sold for N250 to N300, according to our survey unlike before when the same quantity was sold for N100 or N150. Many attribute the price increase to the increasing demand as a result of the fasting.

But watermelon fruit market is the most patronised in Ilorin metropolis. The fruit is not only found in all the major markets in the town but there are roadside marketers by virtually all major roadsides in Ilorin metropolis. It is the preferred fruit for many people due to its nutritional value.

Speaking with DailyTrust correspondent, the Head of Department, Home Economics and Food Science, University of Ilorin, Dr. (Mrs) Rahmat AbdulKareem, attributed the increased consumption of watermelon to its rich nutritional and health benefits, saying it is good to break fasting with it like other fruits.

Malam Suleiman Rabiu who sells fruits along Ahmadu Bello way, Ilorin said he makes more money now that the fasting is on, than at other times.