The government is moving to bring down the cost of eggs, chicken, beef and mutton through a new coordinated purchasing system designed to cut out unnecessary expenses between farms and consumers.

 

President Dr Irfaan Ali announced the initiative on Friday during a meeting with farmers, distributors, retailers and suppliers at State House.

 

Under the proposed arrangement, government will combine orders from schools, hospitals and other public institutions, giving farmers larger, more predictable markets for their produce. Private wholesalers and retailers will also be able to participate voluntarily.

 

But the President says cheaper food must not come at the expense of farmers.

 

“Cheaper food must not come from squeezing the farmer. It must come from taking unnecessary costs out of the system and producing more,” he stated.

 

Retailers participating in the programme will be required to observe maximum mark-ups and clearly display prices, while a public dashboard will track wholesale and retail prices across the country.

 

Farmers, meanwhile, are expected to benefit from fair pricing arrangements, reliable payment deadlines and longer-term purchasing commitments.

 

The government also plans to expand local poultry and livestock production, improve cold storage and transportation, and increase local animal-feed production to reduce dependence on imports.

 

President Ali says the ultimate test will be whether the changes translate into lower grocery bills for Guyanese families.

Poultry farmers who attended the meeting today.
Poultry farmers who attended the meeting today.