Bread shortage hits Sudan capital but parliament says flour reserves sufficient
October 23, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Large parts of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum have been witnessing a shortage in bread over the past few days apparently due to an increase in the cost of production following removal of government subsidies on cooking gas cylinders.
Last September, violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces in different parts of the country following Khartoum’s decision to lift fuel subsidies leading to at least 70 deaths according to official figures and more than a 200 according to activists, human rights groups, and opposition.
Cooking gas cylinders are now priced at 25 pounds ($5.68) from 15 pounds ($3.40).
Khartoum residents complained about the reduction in bread weight and said that some bakeries are selling three loaves of bread instead of four at the price of one pound.
They also complained that several flour mills have cut production while some bakeries are selling their flour quotas into the black market.
But the parliament deputy-speaker, Hago Gasm al-Seed, in press statements on Wednesday downplayed prospects of a severe bread shortage within the coming days and affirmed that the country has wheat reserves that covers the next 25 days, stressing the continuation of wheat importation.
Al-Seed accused unspecified bodies of fabricating the flour crisis and asserted that the government provided large amounts of wheat flour.
“I believe that certain bodies are trying to create panic among citizens. Wheat reserves suffice for 25 days and we have full details on the quantities of cooking gas, gasoline, wheat flour, and sugar,” he added.
The deputy-speaker held Khartoum state government responsible for following up on the recent economic decisions and sending inspection teams to ensure the availability of basic services.
He also urged the oil ministry to monitor cooking gas retail outlets to be on the lookout for glitches and price manipulators.
Last September, the Sudanese government announced that it plans to grow 600,000 acres of wheat in order to cut the import tab for this crucial product used to make bread.
Sudan currently imports more than 2 million tonnes of wheat annually at a cost of $900 million.
Once hoped to be the breadbasket of the Arab world, Sudan’s agricultural sector has continued to deteriorate over the years mainly as a result of negligence, drought, mismanagement, high taxes and the overall economic climate.
Sudanese farmers often complain about the high costs of imported materials such as fertilizers. Many of them were sent to jail as their debt piled up.
Several ambitious plans enacted to bring life to the sector have failed to materialize and critics say the government forfeited a golden opportunity during the oil boom to boost agriculture.
(ST)