Latest data from the Samoa Bureau of Statistics recorded a 14 per cent decline in the overall volume of agricultural produce supplied to local markets for March of this year. 

The decline is attributed to a significant decrease in the supply of most agricultural products compared to February 2024. 

The data revealed intriguing insights into the dynamics of supply, demand, and pricing across various staple foods and vegetables.

Taro, a staple in the Samoan diet, saw a notable 16 per cent decrease in supply compared to February 2023. 

However, there was a 12 per cent increase in supply over the 12 months leading up to March 2024. Despite this increase, the average price of taro experienced a slight decrease, hinting at potential shifts in consumer preferences or economic factors influencing pricing.

Banana supply plummeted by 55 per cent from February 2024, signaling potential issues in production or distribution. Despite this decrease, both supply and average prices showed considerable increases compared to the same period last year.

Coconut, another significant agricultural commodity, experienced a five per cent decrease in supply from February 2024, accompanied by a three per cent increase in average prices. However, compared to March 2023, both supply and prices have seen substantial rises.

Ta’amu, a traditional Samoan root crop, saw a remarkable 48 per cent increase in supply from the previous month, coupled with a 19 per cent increase in average prices. 

However, compared to the same period last year, there was a significant decrease in average prices despite the surge in supply.

While some produce like taro, breadfruit, and pumpkin experienced marginal decreases in average prices, others such as yam, ta’amu, and tomato witnessed significant price hikes. 

Notably, yam prices skyrocketed by 54 per cent.

The report highlights a four per cent decrease in the average number of sellers compared to the previous month. However, there was a 14 per cent increase in seller participation compared to March 2023.

Staple food sellers remained the largest group, comprising 60 per cent of total sellers, reflecting the importance of staple foods in the local economy. However, there was a noticeable increase in vegetable produce sellers, underscoring the diversification of market offerings and consumer preferences. 

Nonetheless, the report also noted that the average worth of selected produce traded in local markets reached $84,500 marking a 13 per cent decline from the preceding month, but a notable 30 per cent increase compared to March of 2023. 

Among these, pumpkin contributed the most, comprising 40 per cent of the total value, surpassing the 37 per cent from the previous month and the 38 per cent from a year ago.