The recent hike in vegetable prices has been driven up by the prolonged dry spell.

Market vendors at the Suva Municipal Market say they are paying more to middle-men because the supply of vegetables is starting to run low.

Some vendors say they have had to drive up the prices to cover costs.

“We bought from the prison. Prison is special – 20 dollars. But from the farm in Nadroga, 40 dollars or 50 dollars for one bag.”

In Sigatoka and Ra, productivity has reduced by sixty percent.

The dry season is expected to continue throughout the year and farmers are being advised to plant high value crops.