A survey on produce sold at the local market in recent months shows a fluctuation in supply, but the accuracy of the statistics has raised important questions for the Minister responsible for Samoa's agriculture sector. 

In the past year, the Fa'atuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (F.A.S.T.) administration launched the initiative of the first harvest or talomua programme being hosted in villages instead of farmers travelling to Apia to showcase their crops. 

The programme saw multiple villages in Upolu and Savai'i hosting their own talomua with the main goal being local farmers embracing sustainable agricultural practices and growing their own food without relying on imported goods. 

But a year on the cost of local produce at the market has jumped from a bundle of taro (10 taro) costing SAT$20 tala to SAT$30 for a bundle of four taro. 

Data collected by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (S.B.S.) show the average volume of agricultural produce supplied to the local markets in the 12 months to June 2023 was 0.7 per cent lower over the same period last year. This was mainly due to a reduction in average supplies of stable food crops such as ta'amu, banana and pumpkin. 

The latest data released by the SBS for July 2023 shows that at the local market, overall supply increased by 57 per cent while overall price rose 2 per cent (when compared to June 2023) as a result of strong domestic demand.  

However, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La'auli Leuatea Schmidt said the market is not the same as before and people no longer transport their produce to the town market to sell. 

He said many farmers now find it convenient to sell produce in front of their homes or at their village market instead of the extra cost of driving to town and these factors are not reflected in the S.B.S. survey.

"Those statistics are collected from the market but when a report is compiled they should come out in the villages like Falealili and others where they have established their own markets," said La'auli, in an interview with the Samoa Observer. "The market has changed a lot and it's improving and village markets are more convenient for our people. 

"The problem with the town market is a lot of them go out to buy produce from out in the village and then subdivide those and resell at the public market. It is not illegal but it's the way to do business." 

Asked about the fluctuating supply of produce at the market, and the intervention through the talomua programme, La'auli said the statistics collected are incomplete. 

"We are seeing an increase of containers being exported by individuals and the demand from the export market has jumped and we are trying to catch up," he said.  "There isn't a time when there is absolutely nothing sold at the market.

"If you look at it if you go to the town market and don't find a taro you take a drive out to the village heading to Satapuala and you will find plenty of produce on the side of the road...I'm not saying the statistics are wrong but they are incomplete." 

The Minister said the challenge faced by the local market is the shortage of manpower with many of those who worked the land leaving the country to work in seasonal work abroad.