Supply dent results in vegetable price hike

By Talaia Mika • 10 January 2024, 11:00PM

Taro and locally produced vegetables were in short supply causing an increase in prices during the last two months of last year and there is no indication when the local supply will normalise.

The Samoa Bureau Statistics (S.B.S.) recorded a drastic 31 per cent drop in the supply of taro locally in November compared to the previous month prompting a rise in prices by seven per cent ($5.41 per kilogram). The retail price for taro was higher at different locations.

The SBS latest report on the local market survey 2023 said the supply of taro also declined by 50 per cent compared to November of 2022.

"The supply of taro to the local markets in November 2023 fell 31 percent to 3,376 kilograms from the previous month, leading to the rise in prices," report reads.

"When compared to November 2022, the current supply of taro declined by 50 percent while its average price rose 53 per cent.

"In the 12 months ending November 2023, supply of taro fell 12 per cent, while its average price increased 26 per cent when compared to the 12 months ending November 2022."

The monthly survey of agricultural food supplies at the local markets brings to light the overall volume which decreased 22 per cent from October 2023.

This reflects the significant decreases in the supply of most agricultural produce at the markets except banana, breadfruit and yam. When compared to November 2022, the current supply decreased by 25 per cent.

"Limited supply of most agricultural produce prompted overall price level to rise 11 per cent from the previous month. When compared with November 2022, the overall price level went up by 32 per cent."

For Taaamu or giant taro, an average of 39 kilograms was supplied at the markets in November 2023 which is a decrease of 79 per cent compared to its volume in the previous month while its average price increased to more than double.

In comparison to the same month last year, the current supply of ta’amu was more than five fold while its average price increased by 99 per cent.

In the year ending November 2023, the volume of ta’amu supplied to the markets increased 17 per cent while its price increased 88 per cent over the year ending November 2022.

Other agricultural foods like banana, breadfruit and yam were recorded to have increased supply by more than 10 per cent and more than 30 per cent.

Coconut supplies at 4,182 kilograms decreased by 5 per cent from October 2023 while its average price decreased by 8 per cent (to $0.97 per kilogram). In comparison to November 2022, the current supply went down by 3 per cent while average price increased by 8 per cent.

In the 12 months ending November 2023, the supply of coconut increased 7 per cent while its average price rose 13 per cent when compared to the 12 months ending November 2022.

Vegetable produce supplied to the local markets in November 2023 all experienced decreases over the previous month. Cucumber registered the largest drop of 36 per cent to 488 kilograms from the previous month, followed by Chinese cabbage supplies dropping 31 per cent to 142 kilograms and pumpkin supplies declining 26 per cent to 9,192 kilograms. Head cabbage and tomato supplies both decreased 12 per cent each to 999 kilograms and 2 per cent to 402 kilograms.