Market vendors feel cost pressure

Vendors in Fiji are appealing to the government to implement measures that will stabilize the prices of essential goods. They report that rising costs for groceries and transportation are significantly impacting their livelihoods and that of consumers. Eseta Naturi, a farmer from Nadroga, has cut back her trips to the Suva Municipal Market. She now sells her produce only two days a week, a decision driven by escalating transportation costs. This adjustment helps her save enough money for essential household needs. Like many others in the trade, Naturi is looking to the upcoming National Budget for potential relief. "Before, $100 would get you a decent amount of groceries, but now that is not the case because of the high cost of groceries and transportation," Naturi stated. "Right now, everyone is struggling with the price of everything. As vendors, we see it as well when we don’t get that many sales within a week." Middleman Simon Lal echoed these concerns, noting a decline in his profit margins. "We are not getting that much of a profit," he said. "The money goes from the pocket. Because the vegetable price is high, life is tough now, because we have to buy groceries from the shop." Both vendors and middlemen are hopeful that the new budget will address these issues, potentially lowering prices and easing the financial strain on the population, especially those facing unemployment.

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Before, $100 would get you a decent amount of groceries, but now that is not the case because of the high cost of groceries and transportation. Right now, everyone is struggling with the price of everything. As vendors, we see it as well when we don’t get that many sales within a week.