While factors such as the invasion of Ukraine are out of our hands, malpractices such as stockpiling of these essential goods need to be cracked down on judiciously.
As such, it is commendable that the authorities are carrying out regular drives against vendors and warehouse owners who take part in this absolute heinous deed and are fining the offenders as necessary.
This is a worrying trend that has been burgeoning as of late, and the authorities would do well to keep it up as long as the prices of daily necessities remain at an affordable level.
As stated, due to global incidents such as the invasion of Ukraine and India’s recent decision to put a moratorium on exports of wheat, we are having to pay more for such goods. On top of this, if businessmen continue to stockpile essential products like oil in order to fill up their coffers, a majority of people are going to suffer.
There have also been reports which state that the TCB is going to stop selling subsidized products like rice and lentil -- the bare minimum that people need when it comes to sustenance. In such a context, it is not only heinous that businessmen resort to such wicked acts such as stockpiling and price gouging, it is evil and downright morally reprehensible.
While the authorities are doing well in carrying out drives against stockpiling, in the long term, we need to prop up our local production and agricultural infrastructure to entirely bypass issues of supply. Making sure that we can meet all our food needs internally is the only surefire way of ensuring food safety. This is the only forward.