In the nation of Trinidad and Tobago, the price of fresh produce has been steadily increasing over the past several weeks, with some vegetables doubling and even tripling in cost. Yesterday, at the Chaguanas Market, Chaguanas Vendors Committee president Crystal Dillon said the prices of numerous vegetables have increased at wholesale markets nationwide: “Right now, cabbage going up, caraille, melongene, sweet peppers skyrocketed, ochroes, bodi.”
But she said the vendors are not the ones driving up the prices. “The price is subject to the cost that we pay, so if the wholesalers, which are farmers as well, tend to have a higher price because of their chemicals, transportation, labour, we don’t have a choice but to buy it because there is always a demand.”
Aranguez United Farmers Association general secretary Bharath Rampersad said several factors are driving the increases. “Seeds have become scarce on the market and the people who usually import these are complaining about the lack of foreign exchange. The cost of fertilizer has doubled, in some cases tripled, plus labour is also a factor,” Rampersad said.
Source: guardian.co.tt