President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Wednesday announced a series of measures to reduce food prices in the Moruca sub-region, identifying high transportation costs and limited local production as key factors driving up the cost of living for residents.
Addressing residents in Santa Rosa during an outreach, the president said the government is looking to establish a cargo service between Charity and the Moruca sub-region to transport food and other essential goods at more affordable rates.
He said the initiative could be operated by a consortium of young entrepreneurs with support from the Guyana Development Bank.
“In addressing the issue of cost of living, we have to address the issue of transportation. We have to address the issue of food production. We have to address the issue of infrastructure…There is only one sure way of securing our communities, and that is improving our own ability to produce our own food,” President Ali stated.
To complement the initiative, the president announced plans to expand agricultural production, including poultry farming, in the sub-region through financing from the Guyana Development Bank.
He said increasing local food production will lower prices for residents while creating new economic opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs.