PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 1:07 AM by Luigi

The Market for Rootcrops

The following appeared as Editorial Comment in the Fiji Times on Thursday, March 31, 2005.

IT is disheartening for farmers to find out after harvesting their crops that there is an over-supply in the market.

Take for example the case of dalo farmers who are forced to reduce the price of a bundle because of the abundance of rootcrops. A bundle which would normally sell for $12 to $15 on a Saturday at the market are now priced between $8 to $10. The same price reduction goes for cassava either sold in baskets or in heaps.

After all the hard work and long hours they put in tending to the farms, their hope is always they would get the best price for their farm produce.

The onus is on the Government to find more markets overseas for rootcrops such as dalo and ensure a stable and long-term arrangement with overseas buyers.

Some of these farmers had heeded the call by the Government and political leaders to leave the urban centres and return to the land for farming.

Some are even supplied such things as dalo tops by the ministry of agriculture to help them start off their farms. But when it is harvest time, they find out that the market, including the overseas buyers, is not big enough for everyone to enjoy a good return for their trouble.

Of course not all the rootcrops would meet export requirements and these have to rely on local buyers.

It should be one of the responsibilities of the Agricultural Marketing Authority although only recently established to identify new local markets for dalo and other farm produce which do not meet export requirements.

The authority should assist these farmers who cannot sell their farm produce.

Because most of the farmers dwell in rural areas, a major problem is the transportation cost. Sometimes they will be lucky to break even after selling the rootcrops for reduced prices and paying for the cost of the hired vans and carriers which transport the farm produce to town.

The competition provided by Chinese farmers living mostly around the town and city and supplying the same market everyday gets tougher. They have easier access to the municipal markets than the farmer say up in Wainimala.

The Authority should be able to suggest ways to subsidise the transport costs and allow the farmers to save some money to take home.

The Authority can also help with the distribution of rootcrops so that maximum return to the farmer is guaranteed.

Anything to help these farmers enjoy using the land and earning a decent living from it will be of great benefit to the economy and their families.



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DIVA-GIS	Thursday, March 31, 2005 Posted 1:07 AM by Luigi The Market for Rootcrops The following appeared as Editorial Comment in the Fiji Times on Thursday, March 31, 2005. IT is disheartening for farmers to find out after harvesting their crops that there is an over-supply in the market. Take for example the case of dalo farmers who are forced to reduce the price of a bundle because of the abundance of rootcrops. A bundle which would normally sell for $12 to $15 on a Saturday at the market are now priced between $8 to $10. The same price reduction goes for cassava either sold in baskets or in heaps. After all the hard work and long hours they put in tending to the farms, their hope is always they would get the best price for their farm produce. The onus is on the Government to find more markets overseas for rootcrops such as dalo and ensure a stable and long-term arrangement with overseas buyers. Some of these farmers had heeded the call by the Government and political leaders to leave the urban centres and return to the land for farming. Some are even supplied such things as dalo tops by the ministry of agriculture to help them start off their farms. But when it is harvest time, they find out that the market, including the overseas buyers, is not big enough for everyone to enjoy a good return for their trouble. Of course not all the rootcrops would meet export requirements and these have to rely on local buyers. It should be one of the responsibilities of the Agricultural Marketing Authority although only recently established to identify new local markets for dalo and other farm produce which do not meet export requirements. The authority should assist these farmers who cannot sell their farm produce. Because most of the farmers dwell in rural areas, a major problem is the transportation cost. Sometimes they will be lucky to break even after selling the rootcrops for reduced prices and paying for the cost of the hired vans and carriers which transport the farm produce to town. The competition provided by Chinese farmers living mostly around the town and city and supplying the same market everyday gets tougher. They have easier access to the municipal markets than the farmer say up in Wainimala. The Authority should be able to suggest ways to subsidise the transport costs and allow the farmers to save some money to take home. The Authority can also help with the distribution of rootcrops so that maximum return to the farmer is guaranteed. Anything to help these farmers enjoy using the land and earning a decent living from it will be of great benefit to the economy and their families. * Comments: Maybe it is time that value adding is the way out of the root crop glut. # posted by Anonymous : 8:30 PM Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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