Is the price of Bananas Going Up?

As inflation continues on an upward path, the price of basic necessities quickly follows suit. Minister of Agriculture, Jose Abelardo Mai, indicated that this year will be no different as the prices on the world market continue to go up. These hikes in prices have been crippling all sectors and, now even banana growers in the south are feeling this pinch. Minister Mai says that banana farmers are battling with the high cost of acquiring the product for packaging. Minister Mai explains more.

Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise: “I did consult with the farm owners and the processors and they were telling me that it’s not that there is a shortage it is the cost of acquiring the banana, of going to look for it and taking it to the ripening house and distributing it that cost has gone up. Because you see what we eat locally are bananas that do not make it to the export market. Now those who want to buy bananas to sell on the local market go and they have to physically select that banana, pack it up and then bring it to their ripening houses – “

Reporter: Which they get for free though.

Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise: “Yeah they get for free. Now they are saying that the process of going to do that, taking their people to select the bananas, packing it in a truck, taking it to a ripening house, distributing it has become expensive and so the say they will pause on it.”

Minister Mai says that the high cost of input goods is also one of the leading challenges the farmers are being faced with. He adds that while there is a concern, it is not a cause for alarm.

Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise: “It’s a serious concern there and I have serious concerns for it and we are putting everything to work right now to try to sort the problem out. I will tell you that the entire agriculture sector right now because of the rise in cost are facing challenges, the entire sector and so it’s something to be concerned. I think there will be bananas in the market, the price is another matter but there will be bananas on the market. And so that is a great concern to everybody. My staff is working day and night to try to see how we can solve these problems. It’s not an easy fix. Some have said to me banana is dead and I am still optimistic that we can do something to bring it back. Citrus also is facing challenges we again are addressing the three subsectors shrimp, banana and citrus in the south.”