Latest update January 7th, 2025 4:10 AM
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Floods push vegetable prices up
-farmers warn of further increases
By Rehana Ashley Ahamad
The prices of most vegetables have risen considerably in the wake of recent flooding,
A vegetable stall at Stabroek Market yesterday
and customers are likely to see further increases if farmlands across the country remain water-logged.
A visit yesterday by Kaieteur News to Stabroek Market revealed that round peppers, selling at two pounds for $100 just a few days ago, are now selling at $120 per pound. Cabbage is now $180 per pound as compared to $120 per pound, boulanger (eggplant) $4000 per bag as compared to $3000 and $3500 for the same bag before the floods.
Tomatoes have risen from $120 per pound to $160 per pound; ochros have gone from $60 per lb to $120 a pound; callaloo, from $100 for three bundles to $500 a bundle; carilla has risen from $60 per pound to $120 a pound; sweet pepper has gone from $260 a pound to $400 pound.
The prices of some ground provisions have also risen.
Cassava is now $100 per lb, after being sold at $50 per pound just a few days ago; plantains have risen from $100 a pound to $140 a pound. However, the price of eddoes remained at $60 per pound.
And some farmers warned of further price hikes if the floods prevent them from replanting soon.
“I am not sure wah is going to happen now, because my three acres of cabbage and sweet pepper is under water. I gon have to wait till it draw out fuh start planting again. I don’t know when that gon be,” said one Mahaicony farmer.
Others agree, saying that they are uncertain as to how much of these crops will be available to be purchased in a few days time, as the majority of farmers will have to wait until their water-logged lands are dry enough to begin replanting.
This small parcel of bora was being sold for $200 yesterday at La Penitence Market
“I doubt we gon get a lot of these crops to buy in a few days time, because we farmers got to wait and treat we land before we can start planting again,” another farmer related.
Farmers on the East Coast of Demerara are urging that the others who have been affected, start treating and replanting their lands as soon as possible. This they say is to ensure that Guyana does not run out on food.
Along with vegetable farmers, those rearing poultry have also suffered losses.
“We can only hope that the water goes down completely by next week,” hoped Mansaram Persaud, a West Berbice farmer.
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