Buai price surge in NCD has chewers reeling

The price of a betelnut (buai) in Port Moresby has seen a sudden jump from K1 to as high as K3.

This time, there is a price surge due to the short supply of betelnut in the nation’s capital.

Loop PNG gathered from betelnut sellers that this shortage was due to supply from Central and Gulf provinces, being directed into the Highlands region from Port Moresby.

Buai sellers from the Highlands region are coming into Port Moresby and bringing buai back to their area on chartered flights, that’s why the supply here is low. To avoid making a loss, we sell the green betelnuts at a higher price or resort to selling the dry betelnut,” one seller said.

Port Moresby only recently was recovering from high prices set on by a shortage of mustard (daka) due to unfavourable weather.

But prices for daka are now as low as K2 for five, compared to its counterpart buai, where wholesale prices stand at 8 for K20 and 6 for K10.

This however, is not affecting chewers in Port Moresby.

“I won’t stop chewing but I may cut down on the quantity and consider not sharing my supply, so as to cost me less. If it means to chew the dry betelnut, I will,” Julianna Waeda, an avid betelnut chewer, said.

Author: 
Gloria Bauai