Africa-Press – Angola. Economist Miguel André stated this Thursday, in Ondjiva, Cunene province, the need for the Angolan State to subsidize some basic food basket products, to help families purchase food.
Speaking about the rise in basic food prices, he said that the Executive should subsidize some products to reduce costs.
He said that, based on the policy of “diversifying more” and countering the current problems of the economy, the focus should be directed to agriculture and industry to avoid waste in production, due to lack of transformation.
To this end, he argues that the Government must empower the business class and invest in improving access roads to production centers, so that the product can be transported to marketing centers.
Furthermore, he highlighted the need for economic operators to excel in business ethics, highlighting that due to the scarcity of products on the national market, many are taking advantage to speculate on prices.
Prices of basic food basket products in variation
Meanwhile, the prices of the main basic food products in different commercial establishments in the city of Ondjiva continue to show upward trends since the beginning of the current year.
The increase in fresh foods such as fish, chicken thighs and variations of rice, sugar and cooking oil was noted.
The price of a 25 kg bag of corn flour increased from 13,500 to 15 thousand kwanzas, while the same quantity of rice increased from 22 thousand to 24 to 26 thousand kwanzas, depending on the quality of the product.
The 50 kg bag of sugar is being sold at a price of 61 thousand 600 kwanzas, against Kz 54,700, the 25 kilo beans are 39 thousand and 300 kwanzas against 35 thousand, the 12 liter box of cooking oil registers a variation between 22 thousand and 26 thousand 800 kwanzas.
On the other hand, there were reductions in the price of food items, which went from 8,500 kwanzas to 7,300, and soap was reduced by 9,500 kwanzas to the current 8,200.
Regarding fresh products, at the cold room level, a 10 kg box of thighs costs 18,500 kwanzas, compared to the previous 16 thousand, while horse mackerel rose from 26 thousand kwanzas to 38 to 42 thousand, depending on the size and quality of the fish.
Trader Augusto Bungue said that local traders have the provinces of Benguela and Namibe as their source of purchase, currently there is little supply and the tendency is for an increase in relation to the months of January and February, where the box of horse mackerel was lower.
Regarding field products, there was also an increase in the price of reindeer potatoes, where a 10 kg bag is being sold for eight thousand kwanzas against 6,500, onions for 6,500 kwanzas, tomatoes in a box are being sold for 24 thousand kwanzas and four tomatoes retail for between 250 and 300 kwanzas, cabbage varies between 300 and 700 kwanzas per head, three leaves of cabbage cost Kz 50 and a small head of lettuce costs Kz 250.
Consumer Elivandra Shinima complains about the loss of purchasing power, lamenting the trend of devaluation of the national currency.
The deputy coordinator of the National Authority for Economic Inspection and Food Safety (ANIESA) in the province of Cunene, Belarmino Tumbuleni, ensured continuous inspection action, with operators, in order to guarantee the maintenance of prices.
He argued that during the inspection work, economic agents have presented their respective acquisition invoices, price calculation map, duly uniform
According to the person responsible, the body will continue to develop its work to avoid exploitative actions by some economic operators, warning that offenders will be held responsible within the penalties imposed by law.
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