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GrizzledFart t1_j5xsvym wrote

> The prospect of imported goods is also a new threat, say farmers’ groups.

> The Department of Agriculture has told local media there will be limits on imports to minimise the impact on local farmers

Limits on imports of a food product and subsequent shortage of that food product - is that how that supply and demand thing works?

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Encartrus t1_j5y9ffq wrote

When you have a short-term crisis, this can be the better option for the long run. If local growers can't compete, they won't be able to normalize prices down to a point where domestic production solves the shortage, and you'll lose that farming sector entirely. Then you'll forever be at the mercy of international markets for food surety, which is typically bad (as we've seen with grain in MENA recently due to the Ukraine conflict).

Subsidizing local food is generally a security issue, not a market driven one.

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cheese_sticks t1_j62fqrh wrote

Due to a bad harvest, experts warned that there would be an onion shortage a few months ago, but the government did not allow importation. And then, just when the next crop is almost due, that's when they give the green light to importers. Local farmers will not be able to compete against cheap imports.

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