Farmers in rural Upolu say unpredictable weather conditions and rising farming costs are making it increasingly difficult to maintain crop production.

Many families continue to rely heavily on plantations and small-scale agriculture to support household incomes and daily living expenses.

Growers from different parts of Upolu say changing rainfall patterns, prolonged dry periods and increasing costs for fuel, transportation and farming supplies are affecting both the quality and quantity of crops harvested throughout the year.

Eti Tuitele, a farmer from Aleipata, said weather changes have made farming less predictable for many rural families.

“There are times the rain falls too heavily and damages crops, and then there are weeks where the weather becomes too dry for plants to grow properly,” he said.

“Many families in our area depend on plantations for food and income, so when crops are affected, it also affects our ability to provide for our families. The cost of farming supplies and fuel is also becoming more expensive, which makes things harder for small farmers.”

Sean Fialua, a farmer from Lotofaga, said rising costs are placing additional pressure on families already struggling to maintain plantations.

“Farming is not easy anymore because almost everything we need costs more now,” he said.

“Tools, transportation, and even maintaining plantations require money, while crop production is becoming less reliable because of the weather. A lot of families still rely on selling produce to help pay for school fees, electricity and other daily expenses.”

Makleo Malielegaoi, a farmer from Fagaloa, said prolonged dry periods and extreme heat have also affected harvests in recent months.

“There are seasons where crops do not grow as well because the weather keeps changing,” he said.

“Sometimes the heat lasts too long, and it affects vegetables, taro and other plantation crops. For many people living in rural areas, farming is still one of the main ways families survive, so when harvests are smaller, households also struggle financially.”

Agriculture remains an important source of food and income for many rural communities across Samoa, particularly in villages where families depend on plantations and roadside produce sales to support everyday expenses.