The monthly supply of agricultural produce sold in local markets in November 2020 dropped by 5 per cent, according to data released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics.

In a report issued on Wednesday, the bureau stated that 312 sellers in local markets were surveyed in that month and their findings showed a significant decrease of all agricultural produce except for banana, ta’amu, breadfruit and cucumber.

That sellers who were targeted in the survey were located at Fugalei, Taufusi, Vaitele, Afega, Saleimoa, Fasitoo Uta, Savaia, and Salelologa every month. 

The prices for selected produce are taken from the Consumer Price Index and when compared with the same month last year, current supply at the time of the survey was 9 per cent lower. 

Furthermore, the decrease in domestic demand for most agricultural produce prompted the overall price level to drop by 3 per cent from the previous month. Lower prices were recorded for all agricultural produce with the exception of coconut, tomato and head cabbage. 

When compared with November 2019, the current overall price level was 12 per cent lower.

In addition, the local market survey in November 2020 showed an overall volume drop of 5 per cent while weak domestic demand pushed average prices down by 3 per cent when compared to October 2020.

Also, the significant decrease in the supplies of most of all agricultural produce strongly contributed to the decline in the volume index. 

The value of supplies also fell 13 per cent to $66,600 from the previous month as the total number of sellers revealed no change from October 2020. However, at 7506 kilograms, the average supply of taro on the days surveyed revealed no change from the previous month while its average price decreased 17 per cent (to $2.22 per kilogram). 

When compared with November 2019 current supply of taro was 34 per cent higher while increased supply over the year pushed its average price down 13 per cent. Current supply of taro in the month under review contributed to a 10 per cent increase in volume when comparing the 12 months ending November 2020 to the 12 months ending November 2019 while its price remained unchanged. 

Banana supplies in the month under review also increased by 19 per cent (to 3,397 kilograms) when compared to the previous month, while increased availability led its average price to fall 10 per cent (to $1.01 per kilogram). When compared with November 2019, the current supply of bananas was 23 per cent lower while its average price was 9 per cent lower. 

Comparing the 12 months ending November 2020 to the 12 months ending November 2019, banana supplies were 9 per cent lower while its average price revealed no change.

At an average of 58 kilograms, ta’amu supply in November 2020 was more than doubled from the previous month while its average price decreased 10 per cent (to $3.25 per kilogram). Compared to November 2019, current supply of ta’amu was 84 per cent lower while its average price was also 44 per cent lower.

Current supply of ta’amu in the month under review contributed to an 82 per cent decrease in the ta’amu volume, when comparing the12 months ending November 2020 the 12 months ending November 2019, while decreased demand pushed its average price down 10 per cent.

With the onset of the rainy season, the supply of vegetable produce to the local markets in November 2020 experienced moderate losses in all vegetable supplies, with the exception of cucumber whose volume rose 12 per cent (to 1,032 kilograms) from the previous month. 

Tomato supplies dropped 45 per cent (to 145 kilograms) while Chinese cabbage volume fell 34 per cent (to 115 kilogram) respectively. Supplies of head cabbage declined 33 per cent (to 594 kilograms) while pumpkin supplies also declined 3 per cent (to 13,350 kilograms) when compared to the previous month.

Subsequent to decreased availability of most vegetable produce to the local markets in the month under review, average prices for all vegetables rose with the exception of cucumber and pumpkin prices, both decreased 10 per cent each (to $3.13 per kilogram) and (to $2.46 per kilogram) respectively.