‘Made in Mozambique’ products against inflation

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

‘Made in Mozambique’ products against inflation

4:36 CAT | 01 Dec 2016

DW (File photo)

Producers well understand that if Mozambicans did not import so much food, it would be possible to counter price hikes. So they have set to work, with vegetable growers in the southern province of Maputo determined to increase production so that markets in the Mozambican capital are supplied mainly with domestic products.

One of the producers’ best bets is tomatoes from vegetable-growing region Catuane.

“At this time of year, our production is almost zero. But Catuane’s projects will now weigh in with tomatoes, serving as a good quality counterweight to imported goods,” says Fernando Matusse, president of the Association of Producers of Vegetables.

Increasing production is not easy, says Matusse. According to producers, competing with imports from neighbouring South Africa is the biggest problem. But the association leader is motivated. “We must have sufficient capacity to provide the markets with normal quantities, so that the citizen’s pocket finds the price bearable.”

default

Traders are confident

In Mozambique, annual inflation reached 25.5 percent in October. The decline in domestic production is one of the causes of rising prices, along as rising commodity prices in South Africa and the decline in value of the national currency, the metical.

“We have always been concerned about this situation, but I believe we will manage,” says trader José Silva in an interview with DW Africa.

Trader Sabir Amad applauds the idea of putting more national produce on the stalls. All that’s needed, he says, is more storage space. “There are certain specific fresh products that we cannot afford to keep in store, because otherwise the deadlines will pass, but we will do it.”

The important thing is that prices do not go up, says Sabir. “If we raise prices without thinking, they will be unsupportable. And if the consumer cannot afford it, we will be left there standing there waiting for better days.”

Source: Deutsche Welle