By JAMES LARAKI of NARI
PEOPLE wander
off to markets in search of fresh produce without having to care who is selling
them.
Selling of fresh
produce, either at established or informal markets these days is fast changing.
In the past, most of the sellers at markets
were usually growers.
Selling fresh produce at the Lae urban market. Many sellers at are believed to be retailers |
Selling of sweet potato at Lae Urban Market. This produce is among many other fresh produce traded in bulk |
Today, a new group, calling themselves
“retailers” has become the main actors at major markets.
In the process,
trading of fresh produce in bulk is becoming common; a trading system solely created
by those involved themselves, in the process creating employment to people who
act as middlemen, transport providers, and handlers.
A recent survey
at the Madang urban market revealed that most sellers there were retailers.
This could be
the same for other major markets.
Retailers here not
growers but are city dwellers who are selling stuff they have bought in bulk
from growers and others involved in the bulk trade.
Fresh produce
traded are supplied from as far as Tambul in the Western Highlands and brought
in by mostly middlemen who have obtained them from rural growers.
Selling fresh
produce in bulk is more common to fast food outlets, supermarkets, hotels and other
institutions, however, it is now becoming popular in markets as there are
people willing to buy and resell them.
Many unemployed
city dwellers have now gone into full time retailing of fresh produce and they
have expressed it is good business.
They realised
that suppliers come from distant places and cannot sell their produce at the markets
and spend more time in town.
Accommodation
and related costs are forcing suppliers to trade in bulk and return as soon as
they can.
“We are aware
that suppliers have accommodation and other related problems in town so we
negotiate with them to buy their produce in bulk. We negotiate so that both
parties are satisfied”, says Maria Norbert.
Maria, in her late 30s from Gopme village at the foot
of Mt Wilhelm, Chimbu, has been in the retail trade at the Madang urban market
for some time and says it is her employment.
She makes enough
to meet the daily needs of her family as well as school fees for her three
children.
Maria is not
alone, there are at least 30 other mothers like her in the same business and all
have similar stories, unemployed and satisfied with what they are doing.
Selling fresh
produce at the market is their means of survival.
Some have tried
other activities but found there was not much income compared to what they get
now.
Fresh produce
such as carrots, cabbage, bulb onion, spring onion, sweet potato, Irish potato,
ginger, and broccoli are among those traded in bulk.
Most of produce
are supplied from the highlands; Eastern highlands and Chimbu supplying most
due to their closeness and transport cost.
It was noted
that the retailers are familiar with the principal of supply and demand.
Prices will go up when supply is low and come
down when supply is high.
They also use such
trends to negotiate with the suppliers, adding they would not buy any produce
that is in abundance at the market at any one time as they would not make much.
Truck owners are
also beneficiaries in this trade.
They charge a
fee for every bag of produce, depending on the type of produce.
It also depends on distance; ferrying fresh
produce from Kainantu in the Eastern Highlands is cheaper compared to Tambul in
the Western Highland province.
Thomas Niggints
from Tomba in the Western bought a Toyota Dyna truck in 2004 with the intention
to ferry passengers but is now involved in transporting fresh produce.
He says many
people prefer to travel in buses nowadays and it is no use competing against
them and has resorted to ferrying fresh produce, mainly to Lae and Madang.
On return, he ferries
betel nut, mustard, sago and coconuts from the coast up to the Highlands. Thomas
says it has now become a fulltime job for him, saying he only rests when
dealers are not ready with their wares.
The trade
employed here is something that has been created by those involved themselves.
Such activity
needs to be supported as people have indicated that such trades can help
support livelihoods of those involved.
Various
constraints such as post-harvesting handling and proper storage facilities are
affecting quality of produce, denying those in this business to get a good
income.
The efforts of
growers, the middlemen and retailers are an indication that people are willing
to help themselves.
Agencies
responsible will have to do what is necessary to support this group of people.
Their concerns
and that of all rural growers are written on walls for everyone to see and it
is only proper their concerns are considered and acted upon.
Maria and her
colleagues consider what they are doing as their permanent employment. Indications
were that they have no plans to quit, saying ‘em wok fotnait bilong mipela, wai bai mi pela lusim’.
And for the time
being, trading of fresh produce in bulk promises to be booming and all parties
satisfied.
But we should be
asking, can it be sustained in the long run?
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