In Natokalau, Fiji, farming remains the backbone of many families, including Sereima Mate Leqavuni, a mother of eight who relies on the village market for sustenance. The market has moved to a new site farther from town, a change officially made last year after years of waiting. The upgraded facilities at the new market are easier on vendors compared with the old tents that buckled under rain and wind, providing a more reliable workplace for these family-run businesses.
Yet the shift comes with new costs. Leqavuni says a $10 return fare per trip is eating into her earnings, and on days when sales are slow, the price of getting to the market reduces her profits even further. “Sometimes, after a long day of sales, I walk to town because transport is unaffordable,” she notes, underscoring how transport costs can undermine rural livelihoods. She stresses that better accessibility and affordable transport are crucial to sustaining farmers’ livelihoods and ensuring food security in rural Fiji.
This situation mirrors a broader pattern in Fiji’s rural markets: improved market facilities bring shelter, storage, and a more comfortable selling environment, but they do not automatically solve transport and access challenges for vendors located farther from towns. In other parts of the country, upgraded markets have helped vendors serve more customers and reduce the daily logistics burden, yet many still face the hurdle of reaching markets cost-effectively.
What could help, beyond better market facilities, are targeted solutions to transport and access. Potential measures include affordable bus routes or transport subsidies for market vendors, cooperative transport arrangements among sellers, and road improvements to cut travel time. Strengthening these links could boost both vendor earnings and local food security by enabling farmers like Leqavuni to bring more produce to market more reliably.
Overall, Leqavuni’s experience highlights a hopeful path: upgrading market infrastructure is valuable, but pairing it with affordable, reliable transport is essential to truly advance rural livelihoods and food security in Fiji.
Summary: A new, better-equipped market site in Natokalau improves working conditions for vendors, but transport costs remain a major obstacle. The story emphasizes the need for affordable transport solutions to maximize the benefits of market improvements for rural farmers.
Positive note: The resilience shown by Leqavuni and other farmers suggests that with coordinated support—combining market upgrades with affordable transport—the rural economy can grow stronger and food security can improve across communities like Natokalau.
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