The General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) has sounded the alarm on the likelihood of prolonged high food prices, with predictions pointing towards the situation persisting until June when crop harvesting typically commences.
Despite a slight decline in food inflation to 27.1% in January 2024, Edward Kareweh, the General Secretary of GAWU, has expressed concerns that a significant drop in prices is not on the immediate horizon.
Kareweh elaborated on the prevailing conditions, noting that the country is entering a lean season for production, compounded by many regions still awaiting the onset of rainfall. This scenario, he emphasized, is expected to fuel further price hikes, particularly for staple crops such as maize and rice, which are currently not being harvested except in irrigation-sustained areas.
The forthcoming preparation of farms in the Western regions for the major agricultural season is foreseen to drive up food prices from mid to late March. The General Secretary foresees that these elevated prices will likely persist until June or July, coinciding with the commencement of crop harvesting in the Southern parts of the country.
Moreover, statistical data reveals that ten out of 15 sub-classes have reported inflation rates surpassing the overall food inflation rate. Noteworthy sectors include Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics; Personal Care, Social Protection, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services; and Restaurants and Accommodation Services, indicating a widespread issue of escalating food costs across diverse sectors in the country.
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