Some farmers are disappointed with the increase in the prices of diesel and lack of incentives for farmers announced in Monday’s Budget.
Farmer Ashram Maharaj said while there might be an increase in food prices, he does not intend to raise the price of his goods.
Maharaj plants two acres of dasheen bush in Chaguanas and supplies two grocery stores in district and is currently looking for more labourers.
“The hike in the fuel will affect all farmers. If you spending more on fuel of course the cost of our goods will go up,” he said.
“If I raise the price then I would lose customers. I would have to cater for the rise in the price of fuel price. You have to take all those things in consideration,” he said.
Maharaj said he sold a bundle of dasheen bush for $5. He said the new offer of up to $100,000 by the Government could expand his business.
Shiraz Khan, president of the Sheep and Goat Farmers Association, said the budget was geared towards the rich businessmen who were involved in farming to enjoy the tax concessions in agriculture.
“Agriculture is the only non-tax entity in the country and is being used by businessmen. Ninety per cent of the sheep and goat reared in this country is by big businessmen,” he said.
He said the increase of in the price diesel fuel would have a serious impact of farmers as most of the machinery used that type of fuel.
Former Food Production minister Devant Maharaj said the $100,000 grant for new and existing farmers announced in Monday’s Budget was already being offered at the Agricultural Development Bank as a loan.
Maharaj described the budget as unimaginative with specific regard to the agricultural sector and could be considered at best as having been plagiarised incorrectly from previous budget statements and said it was doomed for total failure.”
Maharaj said the Youth Apprenticeship Programme in Agriculture which was aimed at precisely this objective had been under-resourced with this Budget.