Tons of vegetables and fruits wasted as demand falls sharply in lockdown
‘People seen fighting in the street will be deported’
KUWAIT CITY, May 13: The Wafer Company, which manages the fruits and vegetables market in Sulaibiya has sounded an alarm bell warning tons of vegetables and fruits are wasted on a daily basis and the cause is the demand has fallen sharply for these products while the supply is abundant, reports Al-Rai daily.
The director of human resources and administrative affairs of the company, Abdul Wahab Al-Sha’aban told the daily the local market is currently ‘absorbing’ only a quarter of the supplies of vegetables and fruits that come to Kuwait daily and only cooperatives and big markets have access to these products while another 75 percent remain unsold and faces the risk of being spoiled despite the fact that many Kuwaitis and expatriates are looking to buy fruits and vegetables.
Al-Sha’ban said, this waste will affect the producers and importers at a time when consumers are unable to get enough supply of these products.
He called on everyone to find quick solutions to allow the marketing of these products through delivery services.
Al-Sha`ban mentioned the sharp decline has affected both imported and local produce. He added only 25 percent of the imported products find its way to the local market while 70 percent of the local produce goes waste.
He pointed out “Wafer” does not have the right to dispose of unsold products, or try to benefit from them, but it addressed the relevant authorities to discuss effective solutions in order not to waste these products and search for an alternative to sell them first in the local market for the benefit of the citizen and the expatriate, in light of the current crisis especially since the cancelation of the barcode system and the catering sector suddenly ceasing to function during the month of Ramadan, thus deepening the crisis.
He called for the necessity of allowing the marketing of vegetables and fruits in groceries and specialized stores through delivery services using the same mechanism in accordance with the precautionary measures.
Al-Sha`ban said 7 key factors were the reason for the sales decline including the non-issuance of non-exposure permits for some sales centers and owners of stalls; not allowing parallel supermarkets in the commercial areas to operate; appearance of corona cases in some cooperative societies forcing their closure; precautionary policies forced upon some cooperatives and markets; daily decline in purchase of these products by cooperatives and markets; discontinuation of the ‘barcode’ system for individual shopping and stopping restaurants and groceries from buying vegetables and fruits.
Deportation eyed:
The security forces have arrested a group of people for fighting in a street of Hawalli during the two-hour break from lockdown, reports Al-Rai daily.
The daily added, all those involved in the fight are expected to be deported from the country.
The General Administration of Relations and Security Media at the Ministry of Interior clarified in a statement, a copy of which has been obtained by the daily, that the concerned authorities immediately rushed to the spot and arrested the men after a video clip was posted in the social media.
No hunting of birds:
A source familiar with the Environment Public Authority confirmed the penalty for hunting birds according to the Environmental Protection Law is imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, and a fine of no less than 500 dinars, and no more than 5000 dinars, or one of these two penalties, reports Al-Rai daily.
The daily added, the Environmental Police Department in cooperation with the electronic crimes department is investigating the video clip which has gone viral of a person hunting birds.
Commenting on a video posted in the social media of a person who appears to be hunting birds with a rifle, the source added, it is unfortunate
there are some people who don’t respect the environment or the laws.
Attack on security denied:
A security source told the Al-Rai daily the security services dealt with a gathering of Egyptians who were shouting from inside their shelter in Farwaniya, reports Al-Rai daily.
They were allegedly unhappy that they have not been evacuated by the concerned authorities.
However, the security sources denied rumors circulated that there has been an attack on a security commander affiliated to the Farwaniya area.”