THE Rewa Market Vendors and Farmers Association are desperately requesting Government for exemption of stall fees for the Nausori Municipal Market.

The association submitted their request on Friday with the approval of all vendors who are awaiting a swift and favourable response from the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Parveen Kumar.

A red zone has been declared by the Government from Korovou to Teidamu in Lautoka.

“A large majority of our vendors and suppliers alike fall within the declared red zone,” said the association president Narend Prasad.

Mr Prasad said they faced difficulties in meeting their commitments to pay stall fees and maintaining the ownership of their stalls.

Even with a huge drive by the Agriculture Ministry to assist farmers in every way possible, it will take three months for vegetable supplies to normalise, let alone root crops and yaqona supplies.

Nausori market vendor Abdul Shamin said the price increase was the first he experienced in his 17 years as a market vendor.

A woman market vendor in Nabua stated that she had to explain to her customers the reason behind the price increase.

The Ministry of Local Government is working with municipal councils to have vegetables from Sigatoka and Labasa sold at markets in Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba, Levuka and Savusavu.

Mr Kumar said he had met town councils from Nausori, Suva, Labasa and Sigatoka to have vegetables sold in cyclone-affected areas.

“We understand that due to a shortage in vegetables, there has been a price hike but we have asked Sigatoka, Nausori, Labasa and Suva municipalities including farmers to have their produce transported to affected areas and sold at reasonable prices,” Mr Kumar said.

Government has also waived all stall fees to assist vendors for one month and hopes vendors in return will assist Fijians by reducing prices.