Farmers’ markets helping to bring food prices down – Min Mustapha

– promises Govt will expand initiative

Government initiatives such as the farmers’ market and other interventions which have been rolled out over the past few months are having a marked effect on food prices, which had ballooned in recent times.

This is according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in an interview with Guyana Times. He explained that reductions in the prices of various commodities on the market can be traced back to these interventions, which have both boosted production and made it easier for farmers to get their produce sold.
“What we have seen is that, over time, we’ve seen the prices for fruits and vegetables have started to decrease. One factor was the farmers’ market. Another factor was the ramping up of production over the last few months since the floods. We have distributed a number of seeds, different varieties of seeds and plants. Now we are seeing the effects. We are getting more production, and the prices for these products has dropped drastically,” the Minister has said.
“What we have also done is that some of the farmers have built capacity, where they themselves are coming out to get market for their produce. Because these farmers’ markets have been able to develop linkages with the farmers and other market vendors…now they are coming out selling by themselves, rather than selling to the middlemen.”
According to Mustapha, the impacts of his Ministry’s policies include increased markets for farmers’ produce, lower costs for consumers, and more production coming on stream. Mustapha has vowed that the MoA would continue to hold these farmers’ markets, with the next one scheduled for April 24 in Leonora (Region Three).
“I’m hoping that we can go to Region Two shortly, and Region Ten. At the end of that, I am hoping that each region will have at least once monthly, a farmers’ market. Some might have it more, because people are calling for it on a regular basis,” he explained.
“We’re looking at capacity. There are a number of farmers who now, as I said, are increasing production, and they want these farmers’ markets to be regular. And also, consumers have been asking for, agitating for, more of these markets countrywide,” Minister Mustapha has said.
Food prices have, in recent times, been steadily rising due to the rapid increase in oil prices on the world market, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government’s farmers’ market initiatives have generally been well received.
In March of this year, hundreds of shoppers had turned out to the farmers’ market at Albion in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). That farmers’ market was dubbed a huge success, and many consumers had utilised the opportunity to capitalise on the reduced prices.
Most of the vegetables offered at these farmers’ marketa are being sold cheaper than market prices in the region. A comparative analysis had shown that at one market in the region, ochro was being retailed at $160 per pound, while at the farmers’ market, it was $100 per pound. At that same market, ten strings of bora were being sold for $100, while, at the farmers’ market, about 50 were being sold for $200.
Eggplants were, meanwhile, being retailed at three and four for $100, compared with three for $200 at another market in the region on Friday. Tomatoes were $100 per pound at the farmers’ market, but the price was doubled elsewhere in the region. Plantains, which were being retailed on Friday $260 per pound, were being sold for between $160 and $180 per pound, and on the bunch it was $100 per pound at Albion.
The first of the Government-sponsored Farmers’ Market Day initiatives was held in February at the Lusignan Market tarmac, during which prices were reduced between 50 per cent and 25 per cent. Among the items sold at the Lusignan tarmac were plantains, cassava, sweet potatoes, and meats like beef, pork, chicken and duck. There was also porridge mix, plantain and banana flour, and an array of fruits and vegetables.