Web tool for monitoring food prices launched for Uzbeks
An online service for monitoring and analyzing food prices was launched in Uzbekistan by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), Uzbek media write.
The web tool includes data on 77 food products from the markets and is available in three languages - Uzbek, English and Russian. The service allows users to quickly view prices for individual product categories, create comparisons between countries, markets and products, download charts, basic and statistical data, and percentage changes.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan also approved the procedure for applying measures to prevent "unreasonable increases" in prices for food and essential goods. Control will be exercised by the Antimonopoly Committee. The agency will analyze the dynamics of demand and prices for gasoline, bread, sugar and more than 30 items.
According to the regulation, the committee is responsible for systematic monitoring of price dynamics, in particular, for basic food products. In cases of sharp fluctuations in prices or the emergence of excessive demand, the department will engage in a detailed analysis of the situation and in the event of an artificial shortage, employees of the department are empowered to enter the facilities of economic entities and conduct an inventory of stocks of products in warehouses.
“Price and market information systems are important for agricultural development, especially for smallholders and food producers. Reliable price information will increase market transparency, competitiveness and ensure a more equitable distribution of income among key players,” experts from the Westminster University said.
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