APNU MP Sharma Solomon has called on the government to account for what $40.8 billion in agricultural spending achieved in the first half of 2026, citing a 6.7 per cent rise in food prices and declines in domestic crop production over the period.
In a statement, Solomon said the government should show how its spending had affected production, productivity and the prices households pay. He said the $100,000 cash grant offered temporary relief, while agricultural subsidies and tax concessions did not guarantee that savings would reach consumers.
“A cash grant does not make food cheaper,” Solomon said. He called for the government to address the costs of producing, transporting and distributing food and asked what was being done to narrow the gap between the prices farmers receive and those consumers pay.
Citing the Ministry of Finance’s 2026 Mid-Year Report, Solomon said the other crops subsector contracted by 6.4 per cent, vegetable production fell by 4.2 per cent and output of certain crops fell by 19.1 per cent. Agriculture, forestry and fishing contracted by 0.5 per cent overall, he said.
Solomon questioned the progress of investments in storage and cold-chain facilities, drainage and irrigation, farm-to-market transport and direct market access. He cited difficulties faced by Region Nine onion growers in selling their produce and called for agencies to track prices from farm to market, anticipate supply disruptions and set measurable production targets.
Kiskadee Watch reported in September that consumer prices rose by 4.4 per cent between December and June, driven principally by the 6.7 per cent increase in food prices. The Mid-Year Report put growth in the first half of the year at 33.3 per cent overall and 10.1 per cent in the non-oil economy. It also revised projected petroleum revenue deposits for 2026 to US$6.498 billion, 136.8 per cent above the budget forecast.
In an October response to APNU’s call for a national agricultural transformation plan, the Ministry of Agriculture acknowledged concerns about food prices and said public investment should be judged by results. It cited weather, imported inflation, transport costs, distribution margins and demand among the factors affecting prices. The ministry pointed to farmers’ markets, planting materials, technical assistance, storage and agro-processing as part of its response.
Solomon asked the government to disclose what measurable reductions in food prices had resulted from its interventions, how far its announced agricultural projects had progressed and what share of petroleum revenues would go towards a long-term programme to strengthen domestic production and make food more affordable.
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