Cambodia: Government takes initiative in response to food shortage worries

• Apr 23, 2021

As the lockdown covering the capital and Takhmao tightens, ensuring food supplies for citizens has taken precedence for the government, which has unveiled several initiatives to solve the issue.

Yesterday, the local government issued permission for the Virak Buntham company to mobilise 64 trucks to deliver food throughout the capital.

The trucks started operating yesterday and schedules for their stops throughout the city are available on its Facebook page.

The company also put out a notice urgently requesting applications for drivers, an indication of how demand for delivery is rapidly rising in Phnom Penh during lockdown.

The Ministry of Commerce also launched an e-shop on Wednesday geared towards helping residents living in government-designated Red Zones to receive their daily necessities.

As of the time of writing, the e-shop – accessible at https://shop.moc.gov.kh – offers six items: instant noodles, canned fish, 25- kilogramme sacks of rice, soy sauce, fish sauce and water. The prices offered are below market norms, with a case of twelve 1.5 litre bottles of water selling for $4.50. At a typical market, bottled water sells generally at $.50 each for the same quantity.

Penn Sovicheat, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, said the goods are procured from vegetable production and aquaculture associations with assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

When the Red Zones in Steung Meanchey, Por Senchey and Toul Kork districts were announced  on Tuesday, the Ministry of Commerce said it would ensure food was delivered to those trapped inside by providing a systematic sales service.

Phnom Penh City Hall has said no private companies or transportation services are allowed to sell goods in these zones and only the Ministry of Commerce has the permission to do so.

Sovicheat said that essential foods and goods would be sold by the commerce ministry, in cooperation with certain partners and added that the number of available products will be expanded.

“The Ministry of Commerce will find the best possible way to coordinate these kind of deliveries. We expect to find a possible solution soon,” he said.

So far, he said the ministry has cooperated with Aeon, Chip Mong, Lucky, Bayon and Makro on procuring goods to supply to those in Red Zones.

Shopping in outdoor markets, which are typically crowded, has long been one of the most common ways to buy groceries and it appears this practice has continued despite lockdown.

Several markets have suffered outbreaks, including the capital’s Olympic Market and Pochentong Market, but some remain open in certain communities, creating conditions where it makes it very difficult to maintain social distancing.

E-shops and newly approved delivery services such as the mobile market bus initiative may help alleviate the issue, as well as ensure that prices are not hiked to take advantage of the lockdown situation.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50843733/government-takes-initiative-in-response-to-food-shortage-worries/