Buyers who purchase root crops and other produce from island farmers to sell at Man Ples Market in Port Vila have now secured a dedicated space for their operations.
Mr. Peter Jeremiah, Chairman of the Efate Vanuatu Association (EVAN), expressed his satisfaction that these buyers have joined market vendors at Man Ples Market and now have a designated spot to sell their produce.
However, Jeremiah noted that space at Man Ples Market is insufficient for all sellers, as many vendors from the main market also joined them. To address this issue, EVAN has reached an agreement with the Cooperative Federation to rent a specific space for its members to sell their produce.
“We don’t have enough space to display our goods, making it difficult to sell enough to recover transport costs from our farms to the market. We believe it is better to find an alternative space that provides enough room for us to properly display our products,” Jeremiah explained.
Transporting produce from outer islands to Port Vila is a challenging process, but the role of buyers helps ease the burden for farmers in the islands.
Jeremiah also pointed out that after the introduction of price control measures requiring vendors to comply with regulated pricing through the use of scales, there has been a price framework that all buyers must adhere to. However, he questioned the relevance of the pricing formula applied to Man Ples Market and Korman Market compared to the main town market.
The Federation Market officially began operations last Sunday under tents, starting with buyers from Santo. More buyers are gradually moving in, and additional vendors from Efate who wish to sell vegetables are also joining the market.