– It is not the farmer who gets the extra money. Kristian Hovde runs a farm in Brumunddal. He was provoked when he saw the record high price jump for food. – It’s not fun to watch. After all, it is the consumer who has to pay, and they pay much more than they have to now. The retail chains use the opportunity to raise prices significantly more than what their price increase is. During July, food prices increased by 7.6 per cent. Compared to July last year, food prices are now 10.4 per cent higher. Hovde himself says the farmers are not to blame, and rather points to other parts of the food industry. – The distribution between us and the grocery industry is very skewed. Something is not right. In any case, it is not the farmer who has received the 10.4 percent that food has risen in the past year. he says. According to Hovde, consumers are being deceived, because they are the ones who have to pay much more than necessary, he claims. – Unreasonable claim This claim is strongly refuted by Jarle Hammerstad. He is head of industry policy in the main organization Virke and represents Norgesgruppen, Coop and Bunnpris, among others. REFUTATING ALLEGATION: Jarle Hammerstad believes Hovde has no basis for placing the blame for the price increase on the grocery industry. Photo: Virke Hammerstad believes Hovde has no basis for placing the blame on the grocery industry. – This is a completely unreasonable claim. There is a storm of increased prices for energy, electricity, transport, fertilizer and raw materials. This means that we get these price increases from the suppliers, which means that the prices in the store are higher, says Hammerstad. Must plan the purchases In the Kiwi store at CC Mart in Hamar, Sunita Shrestha is out shopping for groceries. For her, the increased food prices have meant that she has to plan more carefully what she actually buys. DIFFICULT: Sunita Shrestha is well aware that food prices have risen sharply recently. Photo: Bjørn Opsahl / news – It will be especially difficult for students when the prices are so high. I think a lot of people are planning what to do now. It has to be within our budget, says Shrestha. Customer Robert Torp says he doesn’t think too much about the price increase. But he wonders why it is now so expensive. – This is certainly not positive. But I don’t go around and see where I can save a few kroner. Then I’d rather take the consequences afterwards, he says. – NOT POSITIVE: Robert Torp wonders why the prices of food are rising so much. Photo: Ola Almås jullumstrø / news – Tough times Kjersti Hoff is the leader of the Norsk Bonde and Small Farmers Association. She says that times are tough for many farmers and believes that the prices are too high in the grocery stores. – The farmer has received some increase in income, but it is only to cover costs. FARMER LEADER: Leader Kjersti Hoff of the Norwegian Farmers’ and Small Farmers’ Association says that times are tough for many farmers. Photo: Diako Murady / news She adds that the agricultural negotiations this year provided cost compensation, but that the money will not enter the farmers’ account until afterwards. – The farmer will not be any richer this year if this price rise continues, says Hoff. Increased expenses on the farm At the farm in Brumunddal, Kristian Hovde is worried that things are becoming more expensive. He says expenses on the farm have increased by over NOK 20 per kilo of meat he produces in the past year. As a response to the increased expenses, Hovde has this year reduced the number of cattle and increased the number of pigs. He wished he had better advice. – We depend on a cooperative and on shops that sell it. But we must have a distribution between the farmer, the butchery and the shops that ensures that everyone survives, says Hovde. REDEEMING OPERATIONS: As a response to the increased expenses, Kristian Hovde has this year reduced the number of cattle and increased the number of pigs. Photo: Frode Meskau / news
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Farmer Kristian Hovde in Brumunddal will not be to blame for increased food prices – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
