COVID-19 impacts on farmers, market vendors and consumers in Tonga, Fiji and Samoa

Steven Underhill; Soane Patolo; Salesh Kumar; Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni; Sarah Burkhart

1. This study surveyed 1292 Pacific Island smallholder horticultural farmers, market vendors and consumers in Tonga, Fiji and Samoa, over a five-month period (July to November 2020) to assess the potential impacts of COVID-19 on Pacific fresh horticultural food systems. 2. Most farmers in Fiji indicated that COVID-19 restrictions had adversely impacted on their capacity to produce and sell crops. 3. Farmers in Tonga, Fiji and Samoa reported reduced farm access, difficulties in sourcing agricultural inputs (i.e. farm chemicals, seed and planting material, and farm equipment), hired farm labour costs had increased, and that there was less hired labour available. Farmers in Fiji and Samoa were more likely to identify an issue in sourcing seed and planting material, whereas farmers in Tonga were more likely to identify farm access and labour constraints. 4. The nature and extent of production impact due to COVID-19 varied within each country. • [Tonga] Farms on the main island of Tongatapu, particularly those in the Nukunuku district were more likely to report difficulties in selling their crop. • [Tonga] Farms on 'Eua Island were more likely to have problems sourcing farm chemicals and travel restrictions. • [Fiji] Farms on the main island of Viti Levu were more likely to report production impacts, compared to farms on Vanua Levu. • [Samoa] Farms on Savai’i Island reported increased consumer demand and market competition. 5. Postharvest loss has increased in Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa as a result of COVID-19. Postharvest loss was particularly problematic amongst farmers in Fiji, and market vendors in Tonga and Fiji. 6. Vendors in Tonga, Fiji and Samoa reported issues in sourcing product, that there were fewer customers and that customers were purchasing less fruits and vegetables. • Reduced consumer demand in Fiji was possibly due to more vendors, increased market supply from semi-subsistent farmers and home gardens, and local consumers alternatively sourcing from home gardens or participating in informal product-trading networks. 7. COVID-19 impacts on market vendors varied depending of vendor location. • [Tonga] Vendors on Tongatapu Island were more likely to report problems sourcing product and that consumers were buying less, compared to vendors on 'Eua or Vava’u Islands. • [Fiji] Nearly all (96.8%) market vendors surveyed in Fiji reported that they made less money as a result of COVID-19 impacts. • [Samoa] Municipal market vendors were more likely to report a problem sourcing product (specifically vendors on the main Island of Upolu and in the towns of Vaitele and Apia, and Moataa village), compared to permanent or temporary road-side vendors. 8. Most vendors in Tonga and Fiji had not changed where they sourced product from as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. 9. Most consumers in Fiji (64%) and to a less extent Tonga (43%) found it more difficult to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, highlighting travel restrictions, increased prices, fewer types of fruits or vegetables to purchase (possibly reflecting less imported product) and reduced product quality and freshness. 10. In Samoa, COVID-19 appears to have had little adverse impact on consumers, with consumers highlighting an increased supply of vegetables from home gardens. 11. Almost a quarter of market vendors in Tonga (22.9%) indicated that they had reduced their consumption of fruits and vegetables as a result of COVID-19. Females in Fiji (18.6% of all Fiji survey participants) and Tonga (16.5% of all Tongan survey participants) were more likely to have reduced their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

COVID-19 impacts on farmers, market vendors and consumers in Tonga, Fiji and Samoa

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