Raijeli Bukani plans her week well
ON a good day, Raijeli Bukani could rake in $90 to $100 or even more from selling fresh produce at the Laqere market.
She sells cassava, lumi, vudi, pumpkin, cabbage, moca and ginger to name a few — all purchased from farmers at the Suva Municipal Market or middlemen who come by the market.
Mrs Bukani started her market vending business in 2011 at the old Laqere market.
“I used to plant and sell cassava,” she said.
“And with the money I earned, I bought more produce to add to my table. In 2016 we went back to Wainibuka Village because I wasn’t making enough money — I would then only sell on Sundays. Here at the new Laqere market, I vend from Mondays to Fridays and Sundays because Saturday is my Sabbath.”
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays I would sell only a few things on my table but from Thursday onwards I would buy a lot of produce because that’s when we have a lot of customers.
If you have a lot of things to sell at your table, you will eventually rake in a lot of money.”
The 45-year-old says although business has been slow, she is grateful her husband still has a job and helps her to provide for her family.
“There are two reasons why I think business has been slow — one is because of this pandemic crisis and the other is because of the increase in market vendors — competition is high,” said Mrs Bukani. “I have two tables and pay $1.25 per day for one table.
Mrs Bukani is from Matenimoli Village in Noco, Rewa and has seven children and three grandchildren. She had worked at a sewing company for five years before she started her market vending business.