This festive season, the price of dalo in the North soared because of low production and high demand.
A bundle of dalo sold at $50 at the Labasa and Savusavu markets.
Labasa market vendor Salome Komai said the factors that affected dalo on Vanua Levu were saltwater intrusion and changes in weather patterns. Ms Komai said with no rain for six months on Vanua Levu, the price of dalo would be affected. “Previously there was a lot of dalo sold here at Labasa market.
The dalo would touch the ceiling of Charan Jeath Singh’s supermarket,” she said.
“For vendors in Savusavu and Labasa, we already knew that there would be a shortage of dalo.
“We are now feeling the impact of climate change. Most of the dalo were killed by the hot sun.
She said as Christmas approached, the price of dalo would go up to $60 or $70.
Fellow Labasa market vendor Isikeli Tavuki said the farmers were also not selling their produce to vendors but to companies for export purposes because it would earn them more.
“The supply is short, there are no farms,” he said.
“Now export companies are entering the market. Mr Tavuki said dalo sold at $7 a kilo.
