Page 460 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT

During the year under review the Government spent Rs. 101,50,000/- on buying rice and
sugar to be issued as rations to the people of Bahrain. The increased expenditure was due to
the higher cost of Burmese rice, which was sold in Rangoon by tender.

During the previous year the price of rice to the public was Rs. 1.8.0 per ruba of 4 lbs. for
nine months, Rs. 1.10.0 and Rs. 1.12.0 per ruba for the remaining three months, this year the
price of rice ranged from Rs. 1.12.0 to Rs. 2/- per ruba of 4 lbs., as will be seen from the attached
scale of rations issued to the public throughout the year.

In the case of sugar, it was possible to make a reduction in price towards the end of the year
from Rs. 2.4.0 per ruba of 4 lbs. to Rs. 2/- per ruba, due to cheaper prices at source.

As in the previous year, and in order to ensure plentiful supplies of meat for the month of
Ramadhan, when the consumption of meat is higher than in any other month of the year, from
the 1st of Shaban, the month preceding Ramadhan, the Government doubled the barter rate of
sugar, with the result that the following quantities of livestock were imported from Persia during
the above mentioned two months :

Shaban 1371 : Cattle 666 Ramadhan 1371 : Cattle .. 678
Sheep .. 2,143 Sheep .. 1,942

Goats .. 8,881 Goats .. 7,649

It should be mentioned here that theGovernment gives importers of livestock barter sugar at
a very low price for the sole purpose of keeping the prices of meat at reasonable level. During
the year 1371, the cost to the Government, in the supply of barter sugar was Rs : 700,000/- (over
£50,000), and although not generally appreciated by the majority of the general public, the retail
prices of meat in Bahrain throughout the year were fifty per cent, lower than in neighbouring
States.

Dates were again allowed into Bahrain, free of all Customs duties, and plentiful supplies
were available throughout the year at prices somewhat lower than in 1370.

Fish supplies were more plentiful during the year 1371, than in the previous year, due in the
main to more launches being used for fishing, but supplies still fall short of requirements.

The bazaar was well stocked with all types of imported consumer goods, some types being
more expensive, but in the case of woollen piecegoods and cottons, there was, towards the end of
the year, a reduction in prices at source. It is difficult to estimate whether these lower prices
will be maintained in the new year.