V. Korkidis: An alternative food source is Greek production

“April is expected to be a month of peak food prices and all the tools needed to deal with extreme precision, with quantity mapping, price monitoring, profit control, direct suggestions and regulatory actions that will regulate the distorted operation of the market, but also protect consumers from scandalous profits “. This, noted in a statement the president of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vassilis Korkidis, while adding that “proper management and control of stocks, will prevent problems in the smooth supply of wholesale and supply gaps on the shelf from increased demand , as well as artificial shortages with increased panic “.

Mr. Korkidis underlines the importance of utilizing every acre and every possibility of quality Greek soft wheat production grown in cold climates.

The President stated in detail: “The only reliable alternative source of agri-food and especially cereals, can well become our domestic production in a reasonable time. ‘Besides, we already produce significant quantities of durum wheat that we export, as well as common wheat, barley corn, oats and sunflower seeds that can be grown immediately to cover at least our domestic consumption, so if we want a sustainable food future for our country we must look at Thessaly, Macedonia and Thrace to take advantage every acre and every possibility of quality Greek production of soft wheat grown in cold climates.Greece in the past had absolute sufficiency in all kinds of cereals and sugar, which it must regain, even if initially the cost is not internationally competitive Recent developments have shown us that the nutritional autonomy of every European as a country is difficult to cost. A year ago, the Greek production of one ton of wheat cost 270 euros, while the wholesale price was 286 euros, as a result of which they say ‘you sow wheat, you reap gold’. Today, with the price of wheat close to 400 euros per tonne, the destruction of production in Ukraine with an annual shortage of 63 million tons of grain from the market, I do not know what to say, but we certainly know what to do, as permanent alternative. But regardless of the current price, throughout the period 2023-27, farmers must be supported with every financial tool and the crops threatened by the war must be subsidized. Of course, before the increase in production is ensured, it is necessary to mediate the transitional stage of storage, so that there is no uncertainty, which will cause another wave of accuracy to consumers for fear of shortages, but also to limit exports imposed by other countries. .

Regarding the mandatory monitoring of food stocks and the informal ceiling applied to flour and sunflower oil codes by large food chains, it does not mean shortages, but precautionary moves in order to serve all their customers. Proper management and control of stocks will prevent problems in the smooth supply of wholesale and supply gaps on the shelf from increased demand, as well as artificial shortages with increased panic. April is expected to be the month of peak food prices and all the tools needed to deal with extreme precision, with quantity mapping, price monitoring, profit control, direct suggestions and regulatory actions that will regulate the market distorted operation, but also protect them. consumers from profiteering.

In addition, increases in food prices reduce consumption, causing large sales losses in other categories. “In the Greek market there is sufficient security, without shortages of flour and oils on the shelves of supermarkets, but the demand is that there should be no shortage of basic goods on the shelves of households due to price increases,” concluded Mr. Korkidis.

Source: AMPE