WHILE Suva is still asleep, 62-year-old Lusiana Ravouvou is already making her way to the capital, carrying vegetables, root crops and the hopes of earning an income for her family.
Travelling from Nadroga every week, Ms Ravouvou is among the many rural vendors who make the long journey to sell their produce at the Suva Municipal Market.
Her journey begins on Wednesday evening, when she leaves her village and travels to Sigatoka before finding transport to Suva.
“We leave the village around Wednesday evening and reach the market at about 3am to 4am on Thursday,” she said.
Her family vehicle drops her in Sigatoka, where she makes her own arrangements to continue the journey. Sometimes she travels by bus or carrier, while on other occasions she joins other female vendors heading to Suva to share transport costs.
Ms Ravouvou sells at the market on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, bringing some vegetables from home and buying additional produce from farmers who also travel from Nadroga-Navosa.
Although Sigatoka is widely recognised as Fiji’s salad bowl because of its agricultural production, she believes Suva offers better opportunities for vendors.
“I prefer to come and sell at the Suva Municipal Market because there are a lot of customers here compared to selling in our hometown.”
However, the journey comes with challenges, particularly travelling long distances during the night with produce to sell.
She also says changing weather patterns have affected farmers’ ability to grow crops, with excessive rain, extreme heat and flooding damaging produce and influencing market prices.
“When farmers increase their prices, us vendors also have to increase our prices because we have to pay more for the goods we buy from them.”
Beyond the financial challenges, Ms Ravouvou values the friendships she has built with women vendors from Naitasiri, Namosi and other parts of Fiji.
“We all leave our villages to come and earn something for our children and families back home.”
But one concern she hopes authorities will address is the lack of comfortable sleeping facilities for vendors travelling from rural communities.
She said the accommodation at the Suva Municipal Market was congested and uncomfortable, forcing her to stay at her cousin’s home for the past two weeks, adding another expense to her weekly trip.
Having experienced better sleeping facilities at Lautoka Market, Ms Ravouvou hopes the Government will provide a proper resting space for vendors who travel long distances to earn a living.
The weekly journey is about more than selling vegetables; it is about making the most of every opportunity to support those waiting for her back home.
Beyond the financial challenges, Lusiana Ravouvou values the friendships she has built with women vendors from Naitasiri, Namosi and other parts of Fiji.
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