The people of Ikem Asokwa in Isi -Uzo local government Area of Enugu state have decried the high cost of tubers of yam as they celebrate new yam festival.

Naijacentral reports that the annual festival was celebrated in a low key as the community mourns one of their illustrious son who was gruesomely murdered, recently.

The New yam festival is celebrated once a year in igbo land, its a significant cultural and spiritual event among the igbo-speaking people of Nigeria that allow the people to offer thanks to God for bountiful harvests, while praying for better yield in the subsequent year planting season.

Consequently, the people of Ikem Asokwa were not left out of this age-long igbo tradition as the sons and daughters of the community returned from near and far to observe the 2024 New yam Festival which was celebrated with mixed feelings following the death of their son Mr. Ejike Ugwueze and economic realities in the country.

During a visit to the orie market Ikem in Isi- Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu state, it was observed that three tubers of yam were sold between 15,000 and 45,000 compared to the prices sold last year.

A yam seller, Mrs Judith Odo and an Ezenwanyi from Eha-Amufu, Mrs Offorbuike Ojugo, who joined the people of Ikem to celebrate the new yam festival, lamented the hike in prices of tubers of yam and attributed it to low produce as well as economic hardship bedeviling the country.

They stressed that tubers of yam that were sold at 5,000 Naira last year are now sold between 20,000 and 25,000, and urged the government at all levels to look into the plights of the people.

It was gathered that some people could not afford to purchase the new yam because the price is beyond their reach.

Mr. Chinwe Ugwueze, while appreciating God for making them witness this year’s new yam festival, encouraged the young people to be committed to Farming.

The New Yam festival featured medical outreach organized for both old and young people as well as wrestling competition in the community.