Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

TUFTON

The Government will decide today on the distribution method of an approximately $500 million assistance package for the poor and dis-possessed to cushion the effects of rising consumer prices on the most vulnerable.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced the $500 million assistance in the House of Representatives three weeks ago and mandated the Ministers of Finance and the Public Service, Industry, Investment and Commerce and Agriculture and Lands to work out a framework for the disbursement of the funds.

Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, told The Gleaner yesterday that the matter would go to today's sitting of Cabinet for final discussions.

"More than likely, Jamaicans will hear something in Parlia-ment as it relates to the $500 million, an attempt to bring relief to those persons who are most affected by these increases," said Samuda.

Meanwhile, consumers are faced with another steep increase in the cost of baked products, as a result of a further 22 per cent hike in the cost of bakery flour and related goods.

Less than three months ago, the local market experienced a 30 per cent price increase on counter flour and a 20 per cent rise in the price of baking flour.

Dr. Christopher Tufton, Agriculture Minister, said a basket of critical food items was examined among the multi-ministry discussions.

"This included basic protein and starch, such as flour and chicken meat," said Dr. Tufton.

However, he said his ministry would embark on measures to promote food self-sufficiency as the country grapples with sharp increases which are directly linked to the grain, wheat and corn prices internationally.

These increases have been further amplified by hikes in global oil prices, coupled with the slide in Jamaica's local currency.

The instability in wheat prices has also been linked to the demand for corn as feedstock for fuel-grade ethanol production, as farmers in the United States shift their fields from wheat to corn.

Backyard gardening

A backyard gardening programme is one such initiative that the Agriculture and Lands Ministry is seeking to implement.

"We are looking at how we are going to have to encourage our people to grow more and eat more of what we grow," said Dr. Tufton.

"The Government believes that we are much too dependent on international market conditions to satisfy our basic needs," he added.

Other programmes that will be implemented or strengthened, Dr. Tufton said, include an expansion of technical services to farmers and marketing of produce to consumers.

"Too often, produce is left to rot in the field because of a lack of takers and in some cases because there is no marketing information that the produce is available," said the minister.

Government also reduced the duty on chicken, from 250 per cent to 10 per cent, while the duty on leg quarters went down to 45 per cent from 265 per cent. The 86 per cent duty on eggs was also removed. This is part of a major initiative to assist consumers in light of rising food costs.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com