The monthly survey of agricultural food supplies at the local markets by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics in December 2023 showed a one per cent decrease in the overall volume from November 2023.

This was due to the significant reductions in the supply of most agricultural produce at the markets except taro, ta’amu, coconut, breadfruit and cucumber. When compared to December 2022, the current supply increased by 17 per cent

Limited supply of agricultural produce prompted the overall price level to rise four per cent from the previous month. When compared with December 2022, the overall price level went up by 25 per cent.

The supply of taro to the local markets in December 2023 increased to more than double (to 6,975 kilograms) from the previous month, leading to a decrease in prices by 11 perbcent (to $4.83 per kilogram). When compared to December 2022, the current supply of taro increased more than two times while its average price rose 29 perbcent.

In the 12 months ending December 2023, the supply of taro fell four per cent, while its average price increased 29 per cent when compared to the 12 months ending December 2022.

Banana supplies in the month under review decreased 23 per cent (to 1,990 kilograms) from November 2023 while the average price decreased by two per cent (to $1.85 per kilogram). When compared with the same month last year, the current supply and average price of bananas both increased by 16 and 30 per cent respectively.

Annually, banana supplies increased by 5 per cent compared to the year ended November 2022, while its average price increased 25 per cent.

At an average of 45 kilograms, ta’amu supplied at the markets in December 2023 increased 16 per cent compared to the previous month while its average price decreased by 23 per cent (to $11.56 per kilogram). In comparison to the same month last year, current supply of ta’amu rose 88 per cent while its average price increased by five per cent.

In the year ending December 2023, volume of ta’amu supplied to the markets increased 27 per cent while its price increased 82 per cent over the year ending December 2022.

Coconut supplies at 4,724 kilograms increased by 13 per cent from November 2023 and its average price increased by two per cent (to $0.99 per kilogram). In comparison to December 2022, current supply increased by 45 per cent while average price decreased by two per cent.

The supply of breadfruit in December 2023 increased four per cent (to 250 kilograms) from the previous month, and its average price rose 17 per cent (to $2.72 per kilogram) due to the increase in supply. When compared to December 2022, the current supply of breadfruit increased more than doubled while its average prices decreased 35 per cent.

In the month under review, yam supplies decreased 83 per cent (to 43 kilograms) from the previous month, while its average price fell 5 percent (to $5.31 per kilogram). The current supply of yams decreased by 10 per cent and its average price also decreased by six per cent.

Vegetable produce supplied to the local markets in December 2023 all experienced decreases over the previous month except for cucumber which increased more than doubled (to 1207 kilograms) from the previous month. Tomatoes supplies fell 62 per cent (to 153 kilograms), head cabbage supplies declined 59 per cent (to 410 kilograms) followed by Chinese cabbage and pumpkin supplies which decreased by 50 per cent (to 71 kilograms) and nine per cent (to 8,403 kilograms) respectively from the previous month.

After the decline in the supply of almost all of the vegetables available at the local markets in the month under review, their average prices increased. Cucumber prices increased by four per cent (to $6.76 per kilogram), Chinese cabbage increased by 23 per cent (to $8.89 per kilogram), head cabbage and tomatoes both increased by 13 per cent each (to $9.65 per kilogram and to $18.31 per kilogram) and pumpkin also increased by 14 per cent (to $5.31 per kilogram) when compared to November 2023.