Twenty years of selling vegetables
THERE are precious people that we treasure in our lives. It's for this people that we work hard to provide the best.
Aliti Dibose's grandchildren from four of her five children is the reason why she continues to be a market vendor at the Lami Municipal Market.
She sells a variety of produce from root crops, vegetables and fruits to the people in the Lami area.
However, her drive to provide started with her own children.
"I've been a vendor in the Lami Municipal Market for 20 years. I started off by selling food in a restaurant in the market.
"It was a challenge looking after five children with my husband and cooking and selling food. I'm happy that I was able to provide for children doing the work that I did," she said.
Mrs Dibose while looking after an eatery in the market, was able to put her children to school with her husband until they were married and eventually took over the food business from her.
"Ever since my children got married, I thought it best that they take over the business.
"Also, there was a lot of work that came with running an eatery. This included cooking, cleaning the space, washing the dishes and other activities.
"There were two market vendors that encouraged me to join them and one of them was my aunt. I took their advice and passed down the business to my children."
After the COVID period, Mrs Dibose and the two vendors faced challenges, but they persevered through their testing period.
"There were a lot of vendors in this market after COVID. That period was particularly hard on us. "In an hour, we would have one customer that would pop in at the market. It didn't guarantee that they would buy or not.
"A sack of cassava would last for two days compared to two sacks of cassava being sold in a day.
I didn't give up knowing that I needed to provide for my grandchildren."
Like many, she is aware of the rise in the cost of living after COVID.”
She says that a sack of eggplants today is priced at $60, a dozen of moca and rourou for $30 and a case of pawpaw is $70.
According to Mrs Dibose, these were just a few items highly priced that market vendors have to purchase and to make a living out of.
Though she is struggling along with other market vendors in Lami, she still prioritises her family especially her grandchildren.
"Despite the rising cost of living, I believe that I still have to give the best to my grandchildren.
"When they come to my table, I give them the best fruits and vegetables to eat and take home because they are my priority."