As the Spring Festival is approaching, the prices of major agricultural and sideline products in Jiangsu are expected to rise slightly due to seasonal and market supply and demand. Authorities in the province are therefore piloting the coupon program to help needy family save on grocery bills during the Spring Festival holiday.
Li Xingju, who lives in Jianye District of Nanjing, was widowed by a car accident in her early years and was crippled by injuries. In recent years, Li Xingju and his children can only rely on subsistence allowances. She has therefore become a frequenter to a parity store near the community.
In order to ensure the market supply and price stability of agricultural and sideline products, the province requires at least 15 types of vegetables in parity stores to sell at a price lower than 15% of the average market price. At least one of each category of grain and meat products is to be sold 5% below the market average price.
On the eve of the Spring Festival this year, needy people like Li Xingju can also receive coupons issued by local price departments from their respective communities. These coupons can basically meet their vegetable expenses for nearly two weeks.
In recent years, Jiangsu has tried various means to open more parity stores through the policy guidance, financial support and docking between production and marketing.
The province registered 1332 parity stores last year, helping local residents save 447 billion yuan on grocery bills.
Since May last year, the province has piloted parity store coupons in six cities like Nanjing, Changzhou, Nantong, Lianyungang, Zhenjiang and Xuzhou.
1.93 million yuan worth of coupons is expected to be distributed during this year’s spring festival to benefit 17000 needy people.
(Source:Jiangsu International Channel)
