The bakeries denounced that the price of the flour rose from Bs 310 and 315, to Bs 385 and 390 which makes it unsustainable to maintain the price of bread without state support. Even sacks of five kilos of flour came to cost between 40 to 46 Bolivians.
The sale of bread is normal in the city of La Paz. Photo: ABI file
Source: Digital compass
The bakeries denounced that the price of the flour rose from Bs 310 and 315, to Bs 385 and 390 which makes it unsustainable to maintain the price of bread without state support. Even sacks of five kilos of flour came to cost between 40 to 46 Bolivians.
“This has filled our capacity. We do not receive subsidized supplies like other sectors and it is no longer possible to sustain the previous price,” said Dandy Mealla, leader of the artisanal bakeries of La Paz. He informed that the decision was taken at an emergency meeting last Friday and that more than 8,000 bakeries nationwide are in the same situation.
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-The new price scale establishes that the battle bread unit will cost Bs 0.75, and in some cases two loaves will be sold for Bs 1.50. Some positions already show signs clarifying that “they do not receive any government subsidy.”
On the other hand, the independent bakers of El Alto confirmed that they will also apply the increase. Severo Calle, representative of the group, explained that their sector – conformed by at least 150 producers in Alto and La Paz – has been excluded from state benefits for five years. “We have a pilgrimage seeking affiliation to the Federation to access subsidized flour, but so far we are still marginalized,” he denounced.
Unlike federated bakeries who have agreements with the government, artisanal and independent producers must acquire flour directly from markets.
In the Sopocachi market, the price of the 5 kilos package ranges from Bs 40 and Bs 46; In Irpavi it reaches Bs 52; And in the Rodríguez, where it was previously at Bs 25 last year, now it does not fall from Bs 38. The yeast has also risen: the fresh is sold between Bs 8 and Bs 15, and the dry between Bs 10 and Bs 12.
“It is better to buy now because it is starting to go up and it will be more expensive,” warned a saleswoman from the Rodriguez. Another said that many families continue to buy to make homemade bread, but choose to “make smaller breads” to keep the price per unit.
BD/ML
