The once attractive income derived from the popular fish parcels has lost its value with the intrusion of COVID-19.
Vendors in Labasa have seen a drastic downfall to their weekly income which has dropped to more than 50 per cent.
Melaia Naisorotabua said the COVID-19 situation this year was worse compared with what they faced last year.
“We used to bring 20 to 30 parcels before COVID-19 hit us last month but now we are only bringing in between 10 to 15 parcels because of the situation,” she said.
“The restrictions placed by villages have also prevented people from travelling to town so our customer numbers are also affected.
“It has been a very difficult situation for us and tea and pastries used to be a popular sale as well but all that has stopped now.”
Bella Bradburgh also described the challenges as one of her toughest times as a vendor.
“Last year’s COVID-19 situation was much better than this year. It has gone worse and doesn’t get any better as not many customers come around to buy,” she said.
“Most of our customers come in from rural areas and because of village restrictions, our business also gets affected.”
Ms Bradburgh said vendors could wait for two to three hours before they could sell their first parcel.
