CHAIRMAN of the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (Namdevco) Wayne Inniss is rejecting claims that they are hand-picking farmers to benefit from the $10 million monthly food boxes to feed families affected by the pandemic.
The claim was made by the president of the Agricultural Society of T&T (ASTT) Darryl Rampersad who said the collaboration between Namdevco and farmers was supposed to have benefited a large crop of farmers who, after losing their restaurant and school feeding clients due to covid19 restrictions, will still be able to sell produce.
“This is very commendable of the government, but I have been receiving complaints by some farmers that Namdevco is not rotating the farmers properly. They continue to take from a concentrated number of farmers. What is happening is that there are a few farmers that they continuously take from.”
In response, Inniss said when farmers are getting more than what Namdevco pays they shun Namdevco and chase the higher prices at the wholesale markets.
But when the wholesale markets offer less, they return, he said.
[caption id="attachment_893708" align="alignnone" width="854"] Namdevco chairman Wayne Innis -[/caption]
Innis said while Namdevco would not be in a position to accept all the farmers and may result in accusations of nepotism, favouritism and corruption. He said the notion of rotating farmers sounds good but farmers are their “own worst enemies” who will not accept being rotated.
Inniss explained how the price hounding by farmers affects their distribution and the prices of fresh produce on the open market.
He said: “For example, tomatoes, we have a fixed price of $10 a pound. Right now the wholesale price is $8 per pound. So the farmers will rush to Namdevco, which will create a shortage in the market and the price will increase and then when it increases they will return to the wholesale market to get the higher price.”
Inniss said when these things happen, Namdevco is forced to accept produce from any farmer who is available. Some framers, he said, then accuse Namdevco of favouritism when they are told that there is no need for their produce because they already bought from another supplier.
As part of the government's social programme, food baskets are being distributed to 25,000 families for the months of May to July with a possibility of it being extended to September. The distribution was announced by the Prime Minister on May 7, to assist vulnerable families as covid19 restrictions force several people to be unemployed and unable to feed themselves.
Contractual agreements may not be the answer to farmers price hopping since there is a risk that is overlooked, Innis said. He asked rhetorically what will happen if farmers are unable to supply a produce that is needed, should they be fined; or if Namdevco has enough of a particular produce, should they be obligated to buy more.
Addressing the claim of officials receiving kickbacks from farm
