Government to Set up Buying Booths for Greater Suva Area

The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), will set up purchasing booths along the confirmed Suva borders to ensure access to adequate food of acceptable quality and nutritional value for Fijians in the lockdown area.

This has been confirmed by the Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment, Mahendra Reddy, following confirmation on the lockdown of the greater Suva area after confirmation of the two most recent cases of COVID-19 here in Fiji.

The Agricultural Marketing Authority will set up booths from the Sigatoka end of the Lami Bridge, the Nausori Town end of the Rewa Bridge and at the Sawani Service Station end of the Sawani border to ensure uninterrupted supply of fresh produce to local markets.

These arrangements include the following:

■ The Agriculture Marketing Authority will buy from all suppliers and deliver the produce to the vendors of the Suva market and within the greater Suva area every day for the duration of the lockdown period.

■ The booths will begin buying operations from 5.30am to 1pm beginning tomorrow morning until further notice.

■ The suppliers will be paid cash at these booths for the sale of their produce to the Agricultural Marketing Authority.

■ The purchasing will be for the required variety of fresh food and fruits which is sold at any market for an estimated volume based on the consumption requirement.

“I wish to reiterate to our farmers and the suppliers to refrain from mass harvesting of produce as that will not benefit anyone in the long run. The bottom line is this - we do not want to buy more than is required,” said Mr Reddy.

The Agricultural Marketing Authority will distribute this fresh produce within the greater Suva area immediately after procuring the produce from 5.30am every morning. The Ministry of Agriculture wants to assure the general public that there will be no shortage of fresh produce for the residents of the greater Suva area during the lockdown period.

“Be rest assured that food and nutrition security will remain one of our top priorities as we address this national issue as a nation.