Economist Dr Marlene Attzs says in the short term, there’s little the Government can do to abate the rising cost of flour but long-term measures should include a more aggressive agriculture policy and implementation.
Speaking on the CNC3 News on Tuesday night, Dr Attzs noted that when flour prices increased in January, Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine had promised his administration would become the largest producer of alternative flours in the Caribbean.
“I’m not too sure if that conversation has advanced in Tobago, but I think what we’re seeing happening now provides an opportunity to implement more aggressive agriculture policies,” Dr Attzs said.
Attzs called on the Government to invest not just in land-intensive agriculture but in new technology like hydroponics.
She said Government should also provide incentives to change the nature of consumption patterns in terms of what T&T imports. But it’s also important to note just how much flour factors into our local diet, she pointed out.
“We can’t shy away from the fact that we import heavily, to the tune of over $6 billion and wheat is one of the things that we import. Of course, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is in part fuelling what we’re seeing because Ukraine is one the largest exporters of wheat,” Attzs said
Ground provisions like breadfruit and sweet potato can provide a viable and nutritional alternative to wheat, she noted.
Dr Attzs said consumers will also now have to seek out these cheaper alternatives where possible, alongside a lot of managing expectations within the household and avoiding products you may not need while maintaining a budget.