Friday, 6th November 2009
Pitkali prices posted online
The wholesale prices of fruit and vegetables are being posted online in a drive to fight unreasonable hikes in the price of greens.
This move allows consumers to know the prices of vegetables sold at the Pitkalija market. The prices, which will be published twice a week, are available at www.agric.gov.mt for the time being.
The price of fruit and vegetable fluctuates and it was not easy for consumers to compare the prices at which they purchased their greens with those at the wholesale market.
It is not only the consumer that stands to benefit from this latest move but also farmers and producers as it will help them check the retail prices against what they would have been paid for their produce.
The steady rise in the prices of fruit and vegetables has been a lingering concern as statistics consistently showed that these basic foods were pushing inflation up unnaturally. Between April and June alone, the producer price index for agricultural products rose by 8.5 per cent.
A spokesman for the Resources and Rural Affairs Ministry said prices used to be published in recent decades by the agriculture department but the practice had fizzled out.
The subject of fresh fruit and vegetables and the impact of their prices on inflation was raised in an interview Finance Minister Tonio Fenech gave to The Times recently.
He said: "We have to have a serious look at the way the market is organised such as the Pitkalija and other structures. We cannot allow prices to be controlled in the way that they are as this has been detrimental to the consumer. This is the area we really need to focus on. Statistics show that the two main elements that have pushed up prices over the last few months are, yes, energy, but also the fruit and vegetable sector".
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Comments
Ta' Qali Producers Group is a group of farmers attempting to do exactly what Mr. Agius is suggesting. The group has a farmers' shop where you can always buy fresh fruit and vegetables locally produced. We also provide imported products when local supply is not available or not abundant. It is open to the public all week except for Saturdays. Sundays have proven to be very popular with regulars coming from all over Malta. Our shop, which hopefully is only the first of its type, can be found opposite the Ta' Qali Reservoir in Pitkali Road. The more the public support this initiative the more shops we endeavour to open. The idea is to supply the best product for the least price. We can also supply produce by the boxfull for those who have a larger family who would like to share between friends. This method offers even larger savings.
1. How come the list doesn't include everything? There are items which are evidently missing.
2. OK you posted prices online, but what is the purpose? If a retail outlet will display different prices (obviously higher) can you explain how these prices posted online will effect the retail outlet?
3. Imagine, if I will actually confront the retail outlet and will show them your prices and compare them with their prices, do you actually believe that this will make a difference?
4. If most vegetable sellers actually agree on the prices they will be selling at (again at a price higher than that online) than even if you don't buy from one retail outlet and go to another one, the prices will be similar any ways, if not higher!
5. It's better if we understand WHY retailers are raising their prices, and most probably the answer is BILLS!
It is very clear that you don't know what happens at Pitkali. The price per item quoted online is the AVERAGE price of the item. You should know how it works before calling other people robbers! There will be a whole range of prices for the same item.. the less will obviously be the worst of the range, however there will be of much better quality and will be much higher that the price quoted. In other words, if you expect to buy eg. tomatoes at the price quoted they will be of more inferior quality. Moreover the prices quoted today are not real as the Pitkali don't even open on a Saturday.
Well done to those who took this decision.
What's wrong with knowing who's robbing you Borg? Hope you're not one of them.
Of course you're right. Ghaxxaqniha mill-ewwel.
And by the way, what if the vendor is not willing to sell vegs and fruits according to published prices? that is he asks for much higher prices?
Is ours not a free market? Everybody asks as much as he wants: take it or leaveit.
This happens with everything: for example for a botte of wine worth two euros restaurants, or most of them charge average of 11euros. And always grumbling for gov. to help them : with our money of course. Mickey mouse country.
The only difference between being reported on TV, and being posted on the internet is the media, anyway some people do not have acces to the internet
3. For example yesterday the price for potatoes at TQPG was € 0.45 per kilo whereas the price I see on line is € 0.27.72. Now this difference could be attributed to either the price rising from Monday’s market or more likely because the € 0.45 represents the price for a class 1 potato whilst the average price includes the 2nd and 3rd class potato. So without putting a grade to the product it is pointless publishing prices.
4. To complicate matters further although cabbages, cauliflowers and lettuces are sold by the box, the prices quoted online are by the kilo. Whilst TQPG agree that the price should be quoted by the kilo the fact remains that to date, the tradition has always been to buy by the box. To add insult to injury a box could contain anything from five to twelve cabbages! Imagine working out an accurate price with all that!
I know the intention to improve matters is there but jumping the gun before getting one’s house in order can do more harm then good causing more confusion than leaving piece of mind to the consumers.
Peter Axisa
CEO
Ta’Qali Producers Group
1. The timing is useless – What is the use of reading Monday’s prices today? Yesterday was another market day that could have changed prices in all aspects. The system practiced in the pitkalija cannot provide for such a system unless prices are instantly inputted into a computer system as is done in other markets. Malta is considered to be amongst the top countries in I.T. yet our market relies on handwritten bits of paper which are handed over to the Pitkalija Administration for “proper” recording the next day that sales are carried out.
2. Assuming a miracle takes place and the Pitkala are fully furnished with a computerized system tomorrow, and the Pitkalija will be in a position to issue the prices instantly as they did in Guernsey C.I. forty four years ago, that would still not reflect reality because the best that can be done at present is issue the Highest, Lowest or the Medium price which was what the Government opted for. Although in principle this is correct because the price should reflect 1st 2nd and 3rd grade produce, this cannot be done unless grading starts to take place in parallel
Then you hear the same old dumbheads saying the PL DOES NOT put forward suggestions.
I don't agree with extreme price control, but I don't agree with people being robbed either.
This is completely different from the 80s: then the fruit and veg prices were reported on TV, now they're being posted on internet. The evil socialist regime was trying to 'control the market' , whereas today's efficient government is 'regulating the market'. Those who are smart , understand that these are big differences. Another market failure exisits in the Maltese pharmaceutical product market. Government intervention is justified there too.
Pitkal to Green Grocer/Supermarket/Street Hawker = + 100 to 200% say 100%
Green Grocer/Supermarket/Street Hawker to Public = + 100 to 200% say 150%(retail)
The above figures are to say the least conservative - can anyone justify the difference between the retail price of, for example, tomatoes this year in the peak season and the pittance the farmer received for his produce with all the risks of disease, ect.
Will the interests of the farmer and the consumer be continually sacrificed on the altar of (sic) market economics - when there are conspiracies and distortions. The Government is duty bound to intervene and ensure that there are no manipulations to the detriment to the consumer. This seems to be the root of our high inflation.
Also, while at it, is anybody checking the weighing scales of the retailers or is this taboo? Who is getting paid to ensure that these abuses do not happen? Is he doing his job? If obviously not - then why is he still receiving his salary?
People whether farmers or housewives have been for a long time and still are being skinned alive by vegetable sellers.