The monthly supply of agricultural produce sold in local markets up to June 2021 dropped by 2 per cent, according to data released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics.

In a report issued this month, which included feedback from 271 sellers at the local markets who were surveyed, there was a 2 per cent decrease in agricultural produce due to significant reduction of most of all agricultural produce supplied to the markets (with the exception of coconut and pumpkin). 

“When compared with the same month last year, current supply was 22 per cent higher,” reads the report.

Furthermore, decreased domestic demand for most agricultural produce prompted overall price level to slip 5 per cent from the previous month. 

“Lower prices were recorded for all agricultural produce with the exception of taro, breadfruit, yam and Chinese cabbage.

“When compared with June 2020, the current overall price level was 12 per cent lower.”

As for the supply of taro to the local markets in June 2021, it fell by 10 per cent (to 7,198 kilograms) from May 2021; a level that was 13 per cent higher than the same month last year.

Limited taro to the local markets pushed its average price up 15 per cent (to $1.93 per kilogram). When compared with June 2020 current price was 36 per cent lower.

However, the volume of banana supplied to the local markets in June 2021 decreased 22 per cent (to 1,088 kilograms) from May 2021; a level that was 43 per cent lower than the same month last year. 

While the average price of banana declined 4 per cent (to $1.00 per kilogram) due to weakened domestic demand. When compared with the same month last year current price was 27 per cent lower. 

“At an average of 124 kilograms ta’amu supply in June 2021 declined 6 per cent from the previous month while its average price decreased 24 per cent (to $3.73 per kilogram).

“Compared to June 2020, current supply of ta’amu was 92 per cent higher while its average price was 23 per cent lower.”

The supply of coconut to the markets in June 2021 increased by 13 per cent (to 4,655 kilograms) from May 2021; a level that was 21 per cent higher than the same month a year ago. The average price of coconut remained unchanged from May 2021, but when compared with the same month last year current price was 4 per cent lower.

A general overview of all vegetable produce to the local markets in June 2021 experienced moderate losses in all vegetable supplies with the exception of pumpkin supplies whose volume rose 10 per cent (to 5,268 kilograms) from the previous month. 

Tomato supplies fell 19 percent (to 181 kilograms) from May 2021. Chinese cabbage and cucumber supply both dropped 4 per cent (to 170 kilograms) and (to 852 kilograms), while head cabbage supplies remained unchanged when compared to the previous month.