Many farmers in Hawaii are feeling the impact of the high cost of transporting goods and the items used to produce them amid supply chain problems that worsened during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The lingering problem we have in the supply chain is a real run up in pricing, and that hasn’t gone away,” said Mike Hansen, president of the Hawaii Shippers Council.
A program by the US Department of Agriculture is helping farmers offset these costs. The agency reimbursed farmers $3 million in 2022 and increased the funds allotted to the program to $4 million this year. But it’s the only program of its kind, which limits its impact.
Other factors, like inflation and labor costs, have contributed to rising prices, but 39% of farmers, ranchers and allied operators surveyed by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture in 2020 said shipping costs posed a barrier to expanding their operations, especially on Maui, Kauai and Hawaii island.
Source: civilbeat.org
