Market search no longer a worry for 59-year-old maritime farmer Mr. Eroni Vulaono because of Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) services.

Mr. Vulaono hails from Daku village on the Island of Moturiki in Lomaiviti.

For farmers in Fiji every harvest is more than a means of survival, it brings a sense of renewal as they take steps towards building a future for their children.

“Their services really lift a heavy burden of our shoulders” he said

For maritime farmers like Mr. Vulaono after harvest they travel by boat which usually cost him $250 from Motoriki to the mainland of Viti Levu- destination Waidalice, in the province of Tailevu.

Then from Waidalice to the nearest municipality of Nausori is another extra $90 per trip and the total cost depends on the quantity of produce and the number of trips to be taken to the market.

“These are our normal expenses to get to the market, upon reaching the market, then we have a daunting task to secure buyers for our produce, which is a challenge in itself,” he said.

Sometimes these market searches take days which chews more into their expenses and further contributes to their stressing of uncertainties.

“Its not easy, sometimes our profit margins are very low and we do what we can to make due with what little we can salvage.”

This meant cost cutting and their children going to school with incomplete sets of school stationaries etc.

“However, all that changed when AMA came into the picture, their services include picking our produce from Waidalice which saves us the cost of commuting to Nausori and at the same time providing a market for us”,

“Now we hand over all our produce to the AMA and we wait a few days and get paid, and now our profit margins have increased because most of the expenses are being saved due to the service AMA provides”.

“Now we can till our lands with a much-renewed energy and mindset, knowing that we have a reliable market in AMA

He would like to urge all Fijians to take advantage of such opportunities and utilising the services provided by the AMA.

AMA Executive Chairman Mr. Jone Sovalawa echoed Mr. Vulaono’s sentiments and reiterated that farmers in the in the rural and maritime should not hesitate to contact AMA so that they can discuss how best their products can be procured on time..