Farmers and vendors have given their support to government’s decision to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) on vegetables and other produce, but say they also need relief given the high cost of their inputs.CEO of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul and President of the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) Alistair Alexander told Barbados TODAY their associations saw the benefits of the measures announced last week by Prime Minister Mia Mottley to ease the burden of the rising cost of living on Barbadians.Paul stressed a great majority of farmers were supportive of the price reductions, given the high prices consumers have been paying for a wide variety of goods for some time.However, he said, the agriculture industry was still burdened by high production costs and farmers would have to see how best they can be flexible in order to assist consumers.“The various individual companies have signed on and indicated what they can do. I can’t say that across the board in respect to all players both large and small in the sector will manage the move in the same way. The costs for the smaller players have been of a particular concern,” he said.
