Pandemic driving spikes in food prices

FOOD PRICES HAVE SOARED IN GUYANA since the outbreak of the Corona virus in
2020 according to A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The UNDP survey, ‘Socio-economic impact assessment of Covid-19 on households in
Guyana’ said 71 percent of the respondents in the food market, and 64 percent in the non-
food market, reported a hike in food prices here since the outbreak of the contagious and
deadly pandemic.

It said over the survey period, 22 percent of the participants in the food market and 16 percent
in the non-food sector reported the quantity of food had also dipped.
Among Guyanese, 58 percent of survey participants worry about not having enough to eat
during the ongoing pandemic, while 22 percent have begun to skip meals since the outbreak
of the contagious and deadly pandemic, the UNDP survey indicated.
It said since the outbreak and spikes in the price of food items, 18 percent of survey
participants revealed that a whopping 60 percent of their household earnings is spent on food.
According to the UNDP survey published at the end of last year, the pandemic is also
obstructing access to basic food items and services to Guyanese.
Meanwhile, the survey findings also report 10 percent of the participants reported being
unable to access timely medical services or treatment. Among these, 35 percent reported
healthcare facilities lacked supply while 26 percent indicate local healthcare facilities are too
busy to attend to their needs.
The UNDP also said 23 percent of survey participants revealed they lack money or other
resources to get treatment, while 22 percent admitted being unwilling to travel to the
healthcare facility in their or neighbouring communities to get help.
The pandemic has also adversely affected learning causing attendance at school to dip by
more than 50 percent. This was attributed to absence of online classes according to 55 percent
of participants in the 2020 research. It said 32 percent of the school children had no access to
internet, while 23 percent lacked the required instruments to connect to the information
superhighway to benefit from online learning.

“The findings, analysis, and recommendations of this Report do not represent the official
position of the UNDP. They are also not necessarily endorsed by those mentioned in the
acknowledgements or cited,” the global institution said on its website.
It said “the mention of specific companies does not imply that they are endorsed or
recommended by UNDP in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.”
Among its broad mandate, the international organisation targets beating the pinch of poverty, fighting
inequality, and overcoming catastrophic climate change.
“Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to
build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet,” the UNDP said.