-drop in demand over high prices, health concerns
By Femi Harris
As persistent rainfall and flooding continue to plague farming communities along the East Coast of Demerara, there has been no improvement in the supply of vegetables to the major city markets, vendors say.
Although key vegetables continue to fetch high prices at the markets, there has been a significant drop in the demand. The disruption in supply had seen prices double during the current flooding. A vendor at the Bourda Market told Stabroek News that “de prices fuh these tings really high, an suh yuh find dat people nat buying them as before.” Consumers are sceptical of purchasing vegetables because of the fear of contracting leptospirosis, a potentially serious bacterial illness that can cause death if not treated. Infected wild and domestic animals pass leptospirosis-causing bacteria in their urine and people contract the disease by contact with floodwater, wet soil or vegetation that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals.
Stabroek News yesterday learnt that persons are shying away from the use of vegetables to a great extent with floodwaters still on farmlands. Instead, items such as potatoes, peas, beans and pasta products are seeing greater demand. A vendor said, “Business worst dis week man, people seeing how people dying from duh leptospirosis ting in de news an suh duh frightening people a lot from buying vegetables man.”
Prices at the Stabroek Market are still double too. The vendors there have also noted the concern expressed by consumers about purchasing vegetables from flood-affected areas. “To some extent, even though we suffering a loss, we understand de concern ah de people,” were the words of one vendor there. She further stated that “de tings dear indeed, an ah mean dese people gat other bills to pay, suh ah guess it really hard on them.”
Vendors have also stated that most consumers, if they do decide to purchase vegetables, are asking about the farms they come from. A vendor explained that consumers are looking for substitutes to some of the vegetables and pointed out that “instead ah people buying seasoning, wah yuh fine dem doing now is buying the grind seasoning in de bottle, yuh know, is tings like duh yuh fine happening now.”
One Stabroek Market vendor sharing his view said, “As lang as de rains continue an de flooding continue, dis gon be de state ah de market business fuh now.”
Meanwhile, consumers say that the prices are still too high for the key vegetables. They have also raised concerns as it relates to leptospirosis. “Buying greens right now is a health hazard,” one consumer remarked.
A visit to the city markets last week Monday revealed that prices for the key vegetables had doubled as a result of the persistent flooding on the East Coast of Demerara. At the markets, vendors said they were paying double for tomatoes, cabbages, bora, boulanger, pumpkin, callaloo and okra, eschallot, among others. Bora that was sold at $100 per bundle is now sold at $200 per bundle at some places. The same is the case with pumpkin and okra.
Meanwhile, according to an advertisement placed in daily newspapers, there will be a Farmers’ Market between Monday and Friday at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation’s Robb and Alexander street offices, where farmers will be selling fresh fruits and vegetables. “This retail sale will facilitate farmers who, in light of the Grow More Food campaign launched last March, have increased production, which may become threatened by the prolonged accumulation of water due to current high intensity rainfall,” the advert said. “Members of the public are advised to take advantage of the activity, especially since produce will be sold at an affordable price.”
My My My, i cannot find cheap vegetables, now it looks like i have to live on Chowmein,curry and stew chicken until the floods are gone. If Guyanese don’t open their eyes to see whats happening every year when it rains, then we will suffer for our stupidity.
don’t complain, pick up your tools and start your own kitchen garden, you will find you keeping more money in your pocket.
farmers or those living in the country will survive, you want to live in the city, well that is what it brings you, pain and suffering.
even the chowmein needs veggies too sf.
Hey “Sandman”! Why ya talking like dat like ya don’t know about what de “Survival Ration” will comprise (and the thinking is that you were suppose to have been a soldier… hence the name – “SandHurst First” ). How about adding Pepper-Pot, Soups, Jams and Jellies, Fruits… to the menu. Ya all may be much luckier than some folks on the African continent!!!
Ital chowmein, with sausage and eggs inside.
sh u r a trained man u can survive. also look at it on the bright side call it a forced diet, slim fast. i am sure that what u r eating is better than the army rte meals
Don’t forget the salt-fish!… fast, easy meal.
guyanese needs to start planting their back yards with veggies like okras, bora, pakchoy, eggplants which are very easy to plant and grow, i used to remember back in the days when this was a style,almost every yard would have some sort of vegetable planted.
TIGER PEOPLE IN GUYANA DON’T EAT EGGPLANT THEY EAT BHIGAN.
whats the difference bishnur????
we call um bulanjay…lmao ….. they call it here in Canada eggplant. Guyanese come in a fareign and fuhget that baigan and balanjay is the same ting in g/t. I just came back here after six weeks in Kitty and i had a blast,flood or no flood.Was amazed at the fast pace of real development taking place there. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease that the races got along with each other unlike what nonsense i read from those bloggers that who propogate hate for the present govt. only because its not their beloved PNC. what a shame…Guyanese of all races work and play side by side without any prejudices or perceived hatred for their Guyanese.So its really amusing to read what these North American second class bloggers that hate the PPP govt because its led by Indians write concerning an imaginry marginalisation of the minority. As a black Guyanese myself i was greeted with open arms in Indian villages,especially in the Corentine area. We can expect the Consevative Right to redicule the Obama Administration regardless of what good he does for the States,so its no surprise to read of the ridicule the PPP government has and will continue to receive at the hands of these good Guyanese that only wish for the good ole days of PNC illegal rule that they all supported. Get over it my fellow Guyanese and move on.
SandHurst First, “chowmein, curry and stew chicken” all require seasoning and certain other vegetables to taste good. And what if the chickens come from the East Coast or other affected areas? What if those animals have diseases too? I say, vote Jagdeo next election for a better Guyana!
KUSTOM. LAST SUMMER YOU WERE PAYING DOUBLE WHAT YOU ARE NOW PAYING FOR GAS, SAME SUPPLY LOWER DEMAND.
WHAT YOU SAY? I STILL CAN’T HEAR YOU WHAT???
OUR COUNTRY GUYANA DON’T GET AS MOUCH FOREIGN NEWS AS UP NORTH OR THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT RAIN FALL CAUSE HAVOCK IN INDIA CHINA U.S.A. CANADA ENGLAND FRANCE ITALY RUSSIA YOU NAME IT.
THEN THERE IS THE SNOW WE SHUVLE IT INTO HEAP ON THE LAWN FROM THE DRIVE WAY THE STEPS SIDE WALK(PAVEMENT), THE CITY USE GRADERS (THEY CALL THEM PLOUGHS) PUSH IT FROM THE MIDDLE OF THR ROAD TO THE SIDES. THE ROAD THEN BECOMES NARROW IT BLOCKING YOUR DRIVEWAY YOU GO OUT AGAIN TO CLEAR THAT WHEN IT MELT IN SPRING IS FLOOD ROAD WASH AWAY BRIDGE FALL DOWN TREES FALL ON POWER CABLES BLACK OUT ECT: AND WE CAN GO ON. YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS MINUS 22 DEGREES ITS A NICE DAY. TOMMOROW MAYBE EVEN NICER WHO KNOWS????????????.
All Guyanese should be Millionares, land should be given to you for you to farm, but most of you want to live in the cities. You all want to be REAL GIRLS/BANNAS. I make most of my earning planting up the EBD, don’t let my ERWIN with the CANADIAN flag fool ya.
if flooding is a problem to planting vegetables, just get some containers and hang them up and grow your vegetables.
is only one sector complaining, they now want a welfare system like north america.
This is perhaps the first time you are saying something that makes lots of sense to me “quibian”; and, perhaps to a lot of others too!