Local pepper growers are under pressure due to a large supply of peppers from the west, which, according to the Unie van Groentenhandelaren en Agrariërs (Union of Vegetable Traders and Farmers), is presumably being smuggled. The organisation reports that the price has fallen sharply within three days and calls on the government to better protect local farmers.
The Union has been monitoring pepper price developments for several months. According to the organisation, the price rose last week due to reduced supply. Enquiries among local pepper growers showed, according to the Union, that production had declined. The price therefore stood between SRD 4000 and SRD 5000 per crate.
Within three days, a large supply of peppers from the west was subsequently observed, the organisation states. As a result, the price fell to SRD 2000 to SRD 3000 per crate.
According to the Unie (Union), there is currently no large-scale pepper cultivation in Suriname that could explain the sudden increase in supply. The organisation further reports that the price of peppers in Guyana, converted into Surinamese dollars, is between SRD 1500 and SRD 2000 per crate. On that basis, it suspects that the additional supply originates from Guyana.
The Union considers the suspected smuggling to be unfair competition that puts pressure on the income of local growers. “We request that the Surinamese government better protect our local farmers against such practices.”
According to the organisation, this supply limits the opportunities for Surinamese pepper growers to benefit from higher market prices.
