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COVID-19: Some Big Businessmen Are Hoarding Foodstuff, Says Agric Minister

The Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono, says some businessmen are hoarding foodstuff due to a likely increase in the prices of produce. Advertisement Nanono told … Continue reading COVID-19: Some Big Businessmen Are Hoarding Foodstuff, Says Agric Minister


The Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono.

The Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono, says some businessmen are hoarding foodstuff due to a likely increase in the prices of produce.

Nanono told Channels Television’s Business Morning on Friday that the Ministry of Disaster and Humanitarian Affairs has purchased some items for some Internally Displaced Persons, thus leading to the increase of some food items.

“People are afraid that COVID-19 is likely to affect agricultural projection. There is an element of hoarding, though it’s not much.

“Some big business people have entered the markets and buying foodstuffs in anticipation that the prices are going to go up.

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The Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono.

“There is also a slight government intervention particularly by the Ministry of Disaster and Humanitarian Affairs. They are going into the market to purchase for the distribution to the IDPs,” he said.

The Minister also explained that another reason responsible for inflation is the farmers who do not release all their food products to the market at the commencement of every rainy season.

He is however optimistic that the prices of some food products, particularly rice will reduce within the next month.