The Government is considering the creation of permanent farmers' markets across the country as it looks for ways to ease food costs for consumers.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali said the cost of living is being influenced by several factors, including global inflation, production costs and mark-ups added between farmers and retailers.

Ali said farmers have raised concerns about the difference between the prices they receive for their produce and what consumers ultimately pay.

He pointed to plantains as an example, saying farmers may sell the produce at one price, but the cost can increase significantly by the time it reaches consumers.

"So the farmers, when you go to the wholesale market, the farmers are saying, look, we're selling plantains at X dollar. But when it gets to the market is ten X," Ali said.

He said the Government may therefore have to consider making farmers' markets a permanent part of the country's food distribution system.

"We may need to look at the creation of farmers' markets across the country as a permanent part of our buying ecosystem so that farmers have direct access to the market," Ali said.

According to the President, changing consumer buying patterns are also contributing to differences in food prices.

"More persons today are shopping in a supermarket than were shopping in a supermarket four years ago," he said, adding that supermarket margins differ significantly from those in traditional markets.

Ali said a permanent farmers' market system could provide producers with another avenue to reach consumers directly and reduce some of the costs added along the supply chain.