The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment has announced the establishment of an agricultural produce price observatory under the name “e-Kofini.”
The “e-Kofini,” hosted on the Agriculture Department’s website at www.moa.gov.cy/ekofini, regularly publishes the average selling prices of basic locally produced fruits and vegetables.
These prices are determined both at the producer level and at various retail points, highlighting pricing differences. Price data for the “e-Kofini” is collected twice a week by Agriculture Department officials to ensure timely and accurate recording of data.
The produce monitored by “e-Kofini” includes vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, peppers, beans, and lentils, as well as fruits like bananas, watermelons, melons, and strawberries.
For producer-level data collection, selling prices are obtained from recognized Fruit and Vegetable Producer Groups and Organizations for the basic products they trade. As for retail points, vegetable prices are gathered from supermarkets operating on a nationwide basis.
The “e-Kofini” is expected to contribute to ensuring fairer conditions for all involved in the fruits and vegetables supply chain, bridging the gap between producer and retail prices.
Its aim is twofold: firstly, to inform consumers about expected prices of local fruits and vegetables, thus enhancing market transparency; and secondly, to provide information to producers, bolstering protection of their interests regarding prices in the primary sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s objective in implementing the “e-Kofini” price observatory is to maintain an open channel of communication with key stakeholders in the primary production supply chain, while also ensuring the availability of high-quality products at fair and affordable prices for consumers.
In addition to the website www.moa.gov.cy/ekofini, which the public can visit, a public communication channel has been established on the Viber application titled “Agriculture Department e-Kofini” for more immediate updates.
Interested parties seeking further information can contact Ms. Melpomeni Siakou, Agriculture Officer at the Agriculture Department, at the email address [email protected] or by phone at 22464081.
