MARKET vendors in the West have attributed the recent increase in vegetable prices to the continuous heavy rain over the past few days.
Tavua Market Vendors Association president Abdul Azim said suppliers had increased prices of most vegetables.
“As a result, we also had to increase the market prices so we could earn some profit as well,” he said.
“There has been a decrease in vegetable supply in the market these past few days because of the weather and this has contributed to the increase in prices.
“We do hope that the prices may go down again soon for the sake of customers who use the market daily.”
Mr Azim said a bag of English cabbage which they used to purchase for $25 had gone up to $35 and these were sold at $4 each.
He said okra prices had also increased from $2 to $3 a heap, while Chinese cabbage increased from $1.80 to $3 and long bean from $2 to $3 a bundle.
Mr Azim said prices should normalise soon once the weather cleared. Similar prices were noted at the Lautoka and Ba markets.
