A sharp rise in vegetable prices at the Savusavu Market is putting pressure on both customers and vendors.
Market vendor, Kusma Wati from Korovesi told fijivillage News that the price hike is mainly due to supply shortages and the rising costs that farmers are facing.
She says beans and long beans are now being sold for $4, while a sack of eggplants ranges between $40 and $50.
Wati says English Cabbage is currently going for $10 per kilogram, a significant increase compared to previous months.
She says fewer people are farming now, which is also a cause for concern.
She highlights that despite the higher market prices, local farmers in Savusavu are not seeing the benefits.
Wati says that many vendors are earning less because of limited supply and the growing cost of transporting and sourcing produce.
She says that some vegetables are being brought in from Labasa at higher prices, which further drives up rates in the Savusavu market.
Wati also says that there is ongoing water shortages in her area, which is making it harder for farmers to grow enough vegetables.
Despite the challenges, she says she still manages to earn at least $200 a week from her sales, which helps meet her family’s daily needs.
