BY GEORGINA KEKEA
THE price of produce at the Honiara’s Central Market is said to slightly drop.
Speaking to vendors on Tuesday it was found that currently there is a low demand of market produce and that the supply of produce are also high.
The slippery cabbages that usually costs $10 are now selling for $5 per parcel.
The same goes for a parcel of shallot that usually costs $10 to $15 are now selling at $5 per parcel.
Pumpkins go as low as $2 for the smallest ones and $15 for a big pumpkin.
All the way from Malaita, a ball cabbage ranges from $15 to $30 while a $10 heap potato has a fair amount of potatoes in it.
Resellers at the market says currently there is minimal profit while a seller from the Guadalcanal plains say for her, it will be good.
“This is because I get to sell the produce myself, instead of having middle market people, buying my produce. I do not earn much profit when I do that. But if I sell the produce myself, I will be able to get good profit.”
Another reseller who reside at Tuvaruhu says for her, this is the only income generating activity for her.
“So whether it is good or bad time, I have to do this. I have no option.”
Asked why she didn’t do what other resellers usually do, that is to go back to their area of residence to sell, she said she doesn’t want to do that because it is better for her to sell at the market where no one knows her then to sell from her place of residence.
“Because I want to avoid people getting my produce on credit. This is the only income generating activity for me and sometimes people do not repay what they owe,” she said.
For these vendors, this is their livelihood and they often smile when there are events happening in the city.
“Because this is when we have caterers coming to the market and some buy most of our produce. We also have people from the hotels but most times we are shy to approach them with our produce,” the venders say.
For those from Tathiboko in North East Guadalcanal when asked what will happen to them if they have leftover market produce they pointed to the walkway in front of the Bulk shop and say, “that is our bedroom. We sleep there at night”.
They say it is quite safe and they rather stay close to the market so that they can get there early in the morning before someone take up their space.
“They should build a proper dormitory for us here,” they jokingly say.
