Market Vendors at the Lautoka Market are finding it hard to sell their produce as the prolonged dry spell has had a devastating effect.
Many vendors say the dry season which has been badly affecting the western division has resulted in a hike in the price of vegetables.
Others say many cannot afford to come to the market and not make any profit, thus many stalls are unoccupied.
Sachindra Prasad who has been selling vegetables at the market for over ten years now says this is one of the worst dry spells in his experience.
Vendor, Kelera Domona says she has seen a drastic increase in prices over the past two weeks.
“Ginger from $1.50- $2 kg, it has gone up to $3kg. Chillies from $10- $15 kg has gone up to $20- $30 a kg this time. Round cabbage and tomatoes from $10- $15 has gone up to $20-$25 crate.”
Farmer, Ravi Karan from Nabitu Sigatoka who supplies vegetables to the Lautoka market says planting and harvesting vegetables is extremely difficult now.
The Western Division hasn’t had any substantial rain for over four months now and vendors are expecting vegetable prices to increase in the coming weeks.
