By Abdullah al Khaifi — MUSCAT — The Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserve (PASFR) has revealed a project to set up a special trade mark and is working towards boosting products quality. The Authority is also planning to launch a campaign aimed at changing the stereotypical image in the people’s minds about its products.
In an special interview with Oman Arabic, sister daily of the Observer, Dr Rashid bin Salim al Masrouri, PASFR Chairman refuted the allegation of the Authority’s products being the lowest quality in the market considering that the people’s mistrust on the Authority’s products reflects the consumers’ culture. “The PASFR is supplying high-quality rice at low prices compared with the rates of the same commodities provided by importers, however, the consumer have become accustomed to specific brands and they cannot change their preferences.”
Not all highly prices commodities need to be subsidized, what is need is intensification of monitoring on prices and prevention of monopoly. Omani families spend 31 per cent of their income on food and the low-income families spend more than 60 per cent of their income on food. The success of food security strategies depends on the activion and implementation of agriculture, fisheries and livestock project, as well as the private sector’s role in food production. He said.
