The Sigatoka Municipal Market is in urgent need of repairs and vendors barely made money during heavy down pour because of the deteriorating state of the facility.
Krishna Chand Sharma, the president of the Sigatoka Market Vendors Association, said overcrowding, major water leakage during heavy downpour and weakening timber stalls are among many other issues vendors continue to battle.
“Yes the Sigatoka Market is in a dire need of a facelift,” Mr Sharma said.
“Fresh vegetables and fruits are now in season from the Salad Bowl and yet we are battling shortage of stalls, overcrowding and a public convenience that urgently need repairs.
“We need at least a new set of convenience to cater for the 400 vendors who sell at the market and we really want pour market to grow and we want to look after the welfare of our vendors as well.”
Mr Sharma said farmers who come to sell in the weekends face the brunt of these challenges and most of them have had to hit these challenges head on just so they could sell their produce.
He said the drains piping are rust, floors cracked and eight of the 20 canopies that shelter farmers who sell their produce outside are damaged and need replacement.
“At the moment from the association side only problem we have is when the farmers turn up on Friday’s and Saturday’s it is bit overcrowded and also our market needs repairing water leakage repairs.
“So we have to relocate them inside or somewhere so they can run their business.
“A few ministers have been here and have seen the problems vendors here face and it is not easy for them to sell in such a place.
“We are glad that we have started paying stall fees again which can help foot some bills for repair works inside the market.”
