By Metohuey Michael Adoglo
Benin Republic’s Government spokesman, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji has reassured Beninese that measures have been taken to quell Inflation in the country, adding the government has not remained deaf to the cries of workers in the face of rising prices for consumer goods.
Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji said; “We are confident, as it has begun to be felt on the corn, that the action of the government will further produce effects”
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According to the spokesman, the government has taken a number of measures to contain prices, and continues to take action, despite the fact that the recent outbreaks are global in scope. He noted that between 2016 and 2020, the prices of consumer products, especially cereals, have remained almost unchanged on the markets, thanks to the effects induced by the government’s agricultural policy.
A policy that consists of ensuring that Beninese agriculture is more efficient, produces more and that food products are available on the market.
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“Since 2018, for example, we are the 2nd largest producer of food crops in WAEMU, behind a country with a long agricultural tradition. This government policy has made products available, so much so that prices have remained almost at the same level,” said Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, who maintains that a government that deploys such a strategy, can not overnight, reverse its policy and cause by itself a surge in prices.
“Everyone knows that this situation that leads to the surge in the market is a global trend. However, although it does not depend on its will, the government has been proactive on the issue,” said the government spokesman.
According to him, if the state can do little to address the exogenous shocks that cause this increase in food prices globally, measures are taken to curb the exit of consumer products from the national territory, including cereals.
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In addition to the policy of restricting the export of consumer goods, the government has introduced an export tax on these products.
The government spokesman is convinced that this range of measures has a positive impact on the cost of products on the market. It should be noted that the trade union centers and confederations had taken the floor to denounce the galloping inflation and invite the government to take urgent measures to curb the crisis, but also define mechanisms for long-term management.
According to Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, everything is in place, and it is only a matter of time before the freeze is lifted on consumer goods.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of Africanian News.