Vegetable prices at the Suva Municipal Market have seen fluctuations during the current off-season, leaving both vendors and consumers wrestling with soaring costs and limited supply.
According to vegetable vendor Anaisi Naqera, the price instability was largely driven by the farmers themselves who she said dictated the wholesale prices based on supply and demand.
“Right now, a 16kg box of tomatoes costs $120, while lettuce is selling for $10 a kilo,” Ms Naqera said.
“Cucumber prices have dropped to $30 a bag, but carrots, which were $50 a bag around Christmas, has jumped to $60 at the start of the week and are expected to settle at $55.”
Ms Naqera said the pricing was determined by the market’s main suppliers, primarily farmers of Chinese and Indian origin, who continued farming consistently regardless of price swings.
“Our indigenous farmers often stop farming when prices fall but our Chinese and Indian farmers keep producing,” she said.
Early morning price negotiations among farmers also contributed to the situation with groups often agreeing on a new price before selling to market middlemen.
Ms Naqera said while price setting was out of their hands, many consumers bore the brunt of the increases.
Taina Tuinavitilevu, a regular market shopper, described present prices as “ridiculous” pointing out that a $5 heap of tomatoes contained less quantity than usual.
“We understand it’s off-season but the prices are just too high. Middlemen should at least offer better quantity for these prices,” Ms Tuinavitilevu said.
Former farmer and market vendor Samisoni Sevakarua said natural disasters and recent flooding had further impacted vegetable supply that had resulted in price hikes. He urged consumers to be patient because prices typically normalised after the New Year when supply stabilised.
Taina Tuinavitilevu a regular market consumer at the Suva municipal market. Picture: MEREANI VOLAU
Tomato vegetables are currently sold at the Suva market at $5 a heap. Picture: MEREANI VOLAU
