By Amadou Manjang
Minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof said there is enough food stock to cover the month of Ramadan and even beyond.
Minister Joof made this announcement during a press briefing at the Ministry on Monday to inform the public about the current situation of the stocks and price levels of basic food commodities.
According to him, the food in stock is above the monthly consumption of the country.
On the price level, he said despite an increase in the price of most commodities, there is a general stability in the wholesale prices except for rice and chicken legs.
Food stock
Minster Joof announced that the current food stock level is sufficient to cover the month of Ramadan.
According to him, currently there is 24,973 metric tons of rice in stock whilst 17,295 metric tons is expected to be available by March 15.
For sugar is 17,115 metric tons in stock whilst 1703 metric tons of flour, 3062500 litres of cooking oil, 309 metric tons of onion, 270 metric tons of potatoes, 200 metric tons of full chicken, and 2033 metric tons of chicken legs are in stock.
He added that they’re expecting an additional 26840 litres of oil by 20 March, 160 metric tons of full chicken, and 108 metric tons of chicken legs by March 12.
He revealed that three local farms are expected to produce and supply local markets with additional 8,500 metric tons of onions.
He added that women gardeners who produce onion across the country are expecting to start their harvest and supply in the market by mid-March.
He further added that a total of 6,000 metric tons of potatoes is also expected to be available in the market by 15 March from a local farm.
‘The stocks of flour, edible oil, onions and potatoes have all increased in the month of March 2024 and are adequate for the month of Ramadan,’ he said.
Prices of food commodities
According to Minister Joof, there is general stability in the wholesale prices of food commodities except for rice and chicken legs.
He stated that the average whole sale prices for rice (50kg) American is D2,000; sugar (50kg) is D2,700; flour (50kg) is D1,993; edible oil (20ltrs) is D1,600; full chicken(carton) is D1,950; chicken legs (1.2kg) isD1,025 and cement (50kg) is D340.
The average retail prices for rice (50kg) American is D2,150; sugar (50kg) D2,850; flour (50kg) is D1,950; edible oil (20ltrs) is D1,200; onion (18kg) is D1,200; potato (20kg) is D1,250; full chicken(carton) is D1,850; chicken legs (1.2kg) is D1,100; and cement (50kg) is D410.
The average retail prices of most of the essential food commodities continue to increase in the month of March.
The price of American rice has increased from D1, 850 per 50kg from second week of February to D2, 150 per 50kg as of 4th March 2024.
The price of sugar has also increase from D2, 750 in February to D2, 850 as of 4 March 2024 as well as cement from D375 to D410.
Minister Joof argues that the availability of food stock supply will put pressure on the retail price of goods, therefore, it will reduce.
‘It is expected that the stability in the wholesale prices will be translating at the retail end in the coming days,’ he said.
According to the Minister, international price of goods, covid-19 pandemic and exchange rate of foreign currency are the factors affecting the prices of goods in the country.
To mitigate this problem, according to Minister Joof, the Gambia Government has negotiated with the government of India to secure a waiver for the importation of rice.
On that, he added that a total of 113,650 metric tons of rice were imported under the Indian Waiver in 2023.
He further added that the Gambia Government has requested an additional 150,000 metrics of rice as a new allocation for 2024.
‘The Ministry has also requested from the Indian Government to include sugar and oil as part of the support package for waiver in 2024,’ he said.
He said his ministry is working with Gambia Ports Authority to provide priority berthing of vessels carrying essential commodities to avoid demurrage charges.
He added that any additional charges on goods at the ports usually add prices in the markets.
He added that they are also engaging the Central Bank to provide support to suppliers of essential commodities access to foreign currency.
When asked by Foroyaa about the incompatibility between wholesale and retail prices for some of the goods, Minister Joof stated that domestic factors may be the cause.
Meanwhile, he added the country is operating on a free market system, therefore, prices cannot be control by the Government.
At this juncture, he called on business owners not to increase prices of good unnecessarily as it will affect ordinary Gambians.
