Latest update September 27th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 15, 2012 News
Amidst a shortage of chicken on the local market, government on Wednesday announced that it has granted temporary licences for 12 persons to import one million pounds. The licences are to expire in three months, on September 12th.
According to acting Commerce Minister, Irfaan Ali, the decision was made in response to the increase in price for chicken; and was also arrived at taking the interests of local chicken producers into consideration.
“As a consequence, the importers were granted a fifty percent (50%) waiver on duty instead of the sixty percent (60%) they requested by way of applications for permission to import eight million pounds, over the next six months.”
The Ministry said that the licences would expire on September 12 to prevent hoarding of permits by persons who may be inclined to capitalize on future vagaries of the market.
At the end of the period, the effect of the decision will be reviewed by the relevant Ministry to ensure consumers can obtain the commodity in adequate supply and at affordable prices.
In explaining the decision, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, said that increasing activities in the hinterland with gold mining, among other things, have led to the huge demand, with a rise in prices on the coast. He also emphasized that the licences are temporary.
Questioned whether the government consulted with the producers and whether authorities were aware of accusations that baby chick importers and hatcheries could be deliberately starving the market so as to drive prices up, Luncheon noted that the decision was “mainly compelled by the high prices and shortages”.
Small scale chicken farmers have been complaining bitterly of stunted growth and a shortage of baby chicks in recent times.
Many, facing severe losses, have pulled out of business.
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