Kabala, Koinadugu District — Women traders at Tender Hill Market in Kabala are raising concerns over a growing shortage of onions, a staple ingredient in local cuisine. The scarcity has disrupted business for vendors and food sellers alike, sparking frustration among residents across the Koinadugu–Falaba District.
Koinadugu, often hailed as Sierra Leone’s agricultural heartland, has faced mounting challenges in recent years that have slowed vegetable production. The current onion shortage is the latest blow to the region’s food supply chain, with ripple effects felt in kitchens and market stalls.
Madam Kadiatu, popularly known as Kadie Yabas, a seasoned onion vendor at Tender Hill Market, described the situation as serious. “Supply has been very limited in recent weeks. We can’t meet customer demand, and it’s hurting our business,” she told our colleague Frederick Bilal in Koinadugu.
The impact extends beyond the market. Mrs. Hawa Fofanah, a cookery seller from Jadaia Town, said the shortage is driving customers away. “Onion is essential in soup and stew. Without it, people complain and stop buying. Now, a single onion costs around NLe 20,” she explained, adding that prices of other vegetables like cabbage have also surged.
