Booming Fish Business in Unity State Lowers Prices to 6,000 SSP

Bentiu, Unity State – The price of fresh fish in Bentiu has significantly dropped to 6,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), following the recent strengthening of the SSP against the US Dollar. 

This shift has provided much-needed relief for local consumers and fish sellers alike, particularly within the Bentiu Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.

Nyaruai Chan Jal, a well-known fish vendor in the Bentiu IDP camp who sources her fish from Kober near the Guit County junction, noted that the lower exchange rate has led to a drastic reduction in fish prices.

“Before, my daily profit from selling fish was 100,000 SSP. But now, with the US Dollar dropping, my profit has soared to 500,000 SSP per day,

” Nyaruai explained. “While I am earning more, I hope that other traders will also lower their prices since the dollar has become cheaper.”

Nyaruai emphasized that the price drop should encourage other market traders to reduce their goods’ prices, benefiting the broader community.

“I sell fish to provide for my children and pay their school fees. I’m not a government employee, so this is my only source of income,” she said. “Without this business, my children would suffer, especially in the current economic crisis.”

The recent floods in Unity State have unexpectedly benefited fish sellers, as the overflowing rivers have increased the availability of fresh fish. Nyaruai remarked that the floods allowed her to capitalize on the abundance of fish to support her family.

“If it weren’t for the floods, we wouldn’t have such access to fish, and my children might have gone hungry. We must rely on our natural resources during these tough economic times,” she added.

This year, many unemployed families in Bentiu, especially those in the IDP camps, have turned to fishing as a means of survival, particularly in the absence of consistent humanitarian food aid due to poor road conditions.

The ongoing economic challenges in South Sudan have forced many citizens to adapt, and for families in Bentiu, the booming fish business has become a lifeline.