Although on the decline, sheep farming is still the major meat provider, and dairy obviously growing at an alarming rate, is also a huge earner. Fishing too has come on leaps and bounds. But therein lies an issue.
As a provider to the world, incomes are generally pretty good for farmers and suppliers but are there any savings being made in supplying to the local market? I know prices in the supermarkets are "competitive" and that they also felt the full brunt of the GST increase recently, but for heavens sake, why are prices so high, especially as the major infrastructure in this country is there to support farms and their produce? In a stagnant economy, surely those suffering most and needing a helping hand, the unemployed to low income earners to lower middle class New Zealanders with a family to feed, are in need of a capital decrease in food prices. I'm aware the local suppliers only sell a small amount within the country, the rest going to feed the world, so how about they and government get together and "fix" food prices at an affordable level.
I know there will be those that will cry foul at this suggestion, too bad. If the majority of the population can't eat healthy and well, then the whole of the country suffers. Come on farmers, lobby government and get them to place a Farm Subsidy on all goods supplied to the local market (no need to touch overseas markets) so that those that can't - can. A subsidy as I see it would be taxpayers paying farmers for cheaper produce so all have the ability to eat healthy and well. I'd love to eat fish, beef, pork, and lamb but on my budget I get the offcuts and survive on them. For crying out loud, we're a country of providers and yet we don't provide for our own welfare.
Food, lol now I'm hungry, time for a healthy lunch - Banana's (the cheap Aussie ones)
It isn't the farmers, or market gardeners who hike the prices, it is those middle men who add a bundle on the basic cost of foodstuffs, making it too expensive for people on low wages and benefits to afford. I can go to a shop in town which is run by a market gardener and pay dollars less for vegetables than supermarkets charge.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could buy meat and fish this way too, our family eats sausages, or mince only a couple of times a week and fish once a month.
How did NZ get into such a state where her people are starving for basic food items?
I hear ya loud and clear. I tend to go with the argument that our meat produce (including fish) is hiked up to help subsidise overseas markets which sell cheaply. They know they can squeeze extra bucks out of the general populace and make a killing on exports.
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