The overall volume of agricultural produce sold in Samoa's markets dropped by 30 per cent in June this year with the limited supply pushing up average prices by 4 per cent.

Data on agricultural produce for the month of June 2022 was released recently by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (S.B.S.) and was collated from a local market survey.

Highlights of the survey's findings included what it described as significant reductions in the supplies of most agricultural produce which the report said led to a rise in the price index.

The value of supplies of agricultural produce also fell by 23 per cent to $48,900 from the previous month and the total number of sellers of produce also dropped by 10 per cent to 214 from 238 in May this year.

"The monthly survey of agricultural food supplies at the local markets by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics in June 2022 showed a 30 percent decrease in the overall volume from May 2022," reads the report. 

"This was due to the significant reductions of major agricultural produce supplied to the markets with the exception of a few such as ta’amu, yam, head cabbage and Chinese cabbage. 

"When compared to June 2021, current supply also declined by 22 percent."

Other findings of the market survey by the S.B.S. pointed to a drop in the volume of taro supply for June 2022 by 46 per cent (to 3,030 kilograms) from May 2022; which the report said is at a level which was 58 per cent lower than the same month last year. 

"Taro supply dropped 45 per cent in the twelve-month period ending June 2022 in comparison to the twelve month period ending June 2021. Price rose by 46 percent." 

The supply of bananas to the local market also dropped for the month of June 2022, according to the S.B.S. report.

"The supply of banana to the local markets in June 2022 decreased 23 per cent (to 1,445 kilograms) from May 2022 while its average price slightly increased by 1 per cent (to $1.43 per kilogram). 

"When compared with the same month last year, current supply of banana was 33 per cent higher. Its average price also went up by 43 per cent."

Coconut supplies also dropped by 28 per cent from May 2022 with the report saying its average increase by 11 per cent.

"Coconut supplies at 3,133 kilograms dropped 28 per cent from May 2022 while its average price went up 11 per cent (to $0.90 per kilogram). 

"In comparison to June 2021, current supply of coconut rose 33 per cent while its average price fell 5 per cent."

The report further added that in the 12 months ending June 2022, supply of coconut fell 3 per cent and its average price dropped 16 per cent when compared to the twelve months ending June 2021.

Unlike other agricultural produce whose supply dropped, ta'amu (yam) actually increased, the report indicates.

At an average of 70 kilograms, the report said ta’amu supply in June 2022 increased by 16 per cent from the previous month. 

"Strong domestic demand for ta’amu pushed its average price up by 1 per cent (to $8.69 per kilogram). In comparison with June 2021, current supply of ta’amu fell 44 per cent while its average price has more than doubled."

As for breadfruit, the report said there was hardly any supply of breadfruit at the local markets for two consecutive months, which led to its average price rising by 3 per cent when compared with June 2021.