Awareness actions undertaken with merchants

David Ralambofiringa, the Minister of Industrialization and Commerce (MIC), takes responsibility for checking inventories and product prices, especially essential goods in the northern region of Madagascar.

According to the ministry, all products, including rice, pasta, oil, soap, and sugar, were imported before the rainy season. Distributors have assured that their stocks are sufficient to manage the rainy season. Following discussions with merchants, they highlighted that they have no choice but to raise prices due to the prohibitive transportation costs.

Regarding rice, Bealanana and Mandritsara are not the only suppliers to Antsiranana, but the deterioration of RN 6 leads to increased costs in this region. “Transporting more than 800 tons of rice to the port of Antsiranana will help lower and stabilize the cost of rice on the market,” said the Minister. David Ralambofiringa and his team have not only supervised rice prices but also checked those of other transported products, such as vegetables.

Awareness actions have been undertaken with merchants, particularly to have them present their scales to the measurement and weighing service of the Regional Directorate of Industrialization and Commerce (DRIC).