‘Double whammy’

Rising fuel prices, competition hit farmers, drivers

FARMERS and transport providers in Naitasiri say the recent hike in fuel prices is hitting them hard.

Many who spoke to The Fiji Times said they were being hit by a double whammy – rising fuel costs versus declining income from too much competition at the Sawani containment border.

Ilisoni Roko, a grower from Matainasau, Muaira, Naitasiri said he was one of the most affected because he was a farmer and a transport provider.

“Before the lockdown, I used to take home between $150 to $200 a day. Nowadays I barely earn $90 and sometimes only $60,” he said.

“I am already struggling to make ends meet from selling farm produce at a very low lost and now I have to factor in the increase in fuel cost.

“It’s like putting a sword to the throats of the hardworking farmers because vehicle owners will increase their charges and farmers will have no choice, they will have to pay.”

Kalyan Chand, a taxidriver in Viria, Naitasiri, said it was unfortunate that in the middle of the pandemic fuel prices were being increased.

“The cost of fuel makes my head ache because I can only make between $30 to $40 a day,” the 44-yearold said.

“From that, I have to pay $270 a week to the owner and fill fuel and earn my wages from whatever is left. It’s a tough life we are living in because we are limited by the lockdown and then we are hit by high fuel prices.”

New fuel prices came into effect from July 1 as announced by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission last month.

It’s a tough life we are living in because we are limited by the lockdown and then we are hit by high fuel prices – Kalyan Chand