Rice Producers Not Happy
With Price of Rice Set
By Government
Costa Rican rice
producers and the
government are at odds
over the price of rice,
a set back for the
government is looking to
give producers a new
pulse to the sector.
Producers want a higher
price set by the
government, some saying
that stock of rice will
only last two months,
while the government
insists the stockpile is
for seven months.
The price set by the
government is ˘17.890
colones for 160 pounds,
however, producers are
demanding a price of
˘21.000 colones.
Producers say that the
international price is
˘24.000 colones and that
there is no incentive
for Costa Rican
producers at the price
set by the government.
Some producers say that
the price set by the
government is not enough
to cover costs and have
no incentive to sow a
crop that will not
generate enough income
to offset costs.
However, the government
insists that the price
is right and not to hit
consumers too hard in
the face of a world
shortage of the grain.
Eduardo Sibaja,
vice-minister of Economy
said that the government
has considered all the
costs and that producers
are being greedy.
"Following a study the
price was defined", said
Sibaja.
As for the consumer
price at the supermarket
checkout, a 2 kilogram
back of rice will cost
˘100 colones more in
July. |
