While the sharp increase in flour prices is anticipated to have a great impact on low income earners, Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) executive director Vani Catanasiga says people should start looking at “healthier food options” as an alternative diet to sustain themselves.
Her comments came following the increase in flour prices was announced by the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission that came into effect yesterday.
“FCOSS anticipates that this increase will greatly impact families given that flour is a key ingredient for common staples of meals for many communities in Fiji,” Ms Catanasiga said.
“There are continuing efforts by Government and civil society to reintroduce local and healthier foods into family meals.”
However, she said, the reach for these alternatives could be quite limited because for some people in the Western Division who had been impacted by recent cyclones recently did not have access to root crops.
“FCOSS is particularly mindful that across the Western Division many families are still recovering from floods which impacted plantations and sources of food. If flour prices have increased, what options do these affected communities have if they can’t get root crops?”
Ms Catanasiga said such challenges should motivate development stakeholders to work proactively with communities to mitigate the impacts of global trends on access to food and water.
New flour prices:
- 50 kg bag flour increased from $59.51 to $70.64
- 25kg bag flour increased from $29.80 to $35.50
- 10kg flour increased from $12.02 to $14.57
- 5kg flour bag price has gone up from $5.97 to $7.38.
Source: FCCC
