Expect prices of foodstuff to go up – Ghanaian farmers

Farmers across the country have resolved to adjust upwards, prices of foodstuff to reflect the 10 per cent increment in transport fares announced by transport operators on Monday following the upward review of petroleum prices.

Persistent increment in prices of petroleum products in the country since the beginning of the year culminated in a 10 per cent increment in transport fares.

According to the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, the increase in transport fares “will also heavily affect the cost of transportation of farm produce from the hinterlands and farm gates to the Urban and market centres”.

In a statement Tuesday, the Chamber said as farmers, they expected the government to have introduced some form of “cushion” to protect the consumer and the poor farmers at the same time but that has not been done.

“Government’s inability to introduce some interventions leaves the farmers with no choice than to also increase prices across board otherwise, their purchasing power and standard of living will be eroded and their quality of life reduced,” the statement explained.The chamber said since petroleum prices are often the precipitations for general price hikes resulting in higher cost of living, farmers will have no option than to also “increase prices of their produce by a commensurate margin.

The increment of foodstuff, it explained, would enable farmers cope with the general price rise including input cost and cost of living.

Though it did not say when consumers are to expect the increment, Chief Executive of the Chamber, Anthony S.K. Morrisson told 3News “in the coming days”.