A Nausori man is hoping Government heard the cries of the poor while preparing the 2022–2023 National Budget.
Ritesh Lal, a father of three says he hopes the budget announcement tonight will provide some relief for poor Fijians.
“I would like to see the price of food items go down,” the 36-year-old said.
“The cost of living in our country has gone very high in recent years and we are very badly affected. Mr Lal said it was hard for him to support his family because of the high cost of living.
“I was doing farming with my father but had to look for a job elsewhere to support my family. “We can no longer depend on farming alone as the cost of everything has increased.
“Our children have needs — their school stuff, bus fare and everything else.
“I had to think about all that, so I have started to work while my wife is helping my father sell our produce from a roadside stall.”
Mr Lal said he also hoped the price of agricultural products such as weedicides and pesticides would decrease.
“Weedicides and pesticide prices have increased a lot while our vegetable prices are still the same. “The Government should consider all this.”
