Sofara appeals for government help

By Aruna Lolani 04 May 2017, 12:00AM

The government needs to up its game when it comes to finding overseas markets for fruits and local crops.

This is the opinion of Sofara Maiava, 56, from the village of Tanumapua, who says far too many local fruits are being wasted when they could be turned into lucrative exports for Samoa. 

When the Village Voice team approached Sofara, he was on his way back home after selling koko Samoa, pawpaw at their village market.

“There is a lot of things we can sell but the demand is limited,” he said. “We need more markets overseas.”

Sofara said his goal is to help his family.

“My goal is to give my children a better future.

 “The only issue we have is not having enough money.”

Sofara struggles to make ends meet with the little they make. 

“If money was only needed for food itself then that will be fine, but too bad the money we make is also for water bills, electricity, kids school as well as family obligations.” 

He said he needs the government to help.

 “We live mainly on the fruits,” he said. “Sometimes we have more than enough but there is a time when we don’t have anything because the competition between the sellers is tough. 

“I personally ask the government to help our farmers export our goods.

“It’s not for myself only but for the rest of us who are depending on farms for living. 

“Imagine how hard we plant fruits but when the sale is slow the rest of our fresh goods are going straight to the rubbish. 

“We are also wasting a lot of energy in working to grow them. This is why I urge the government to do more to find better markets for our produces.

“Please consider this as a request to help promote the fruits of our land so we can make more money from them.”

By Aruna Lolani 04 May 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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