The price of yaqona at the Labasa Market has doubled.

Some vendors say the devastation left behind by Tropical Cyclone   on yaqona farms in Cakaudrove and Bua provinces is one of the major reasons.

Yaqona vendor Jona Maiwaikava said farmers were now selling a kilogram of yaqona from $40 to $55.

“Now that a few farmers are coming to Labasa Market to sell their produce to large number of vendors the price has doubled,” Mr Maiwaikava said.

“So we the vendors sell yaqona for about $60 to $70.”

The price of 1kg of yaqona before was from $27 or $32, but it has doubled.

“Customers get angry on us for putting higher price but little do they know that there is shortage of yaqona and farmers are selling it to us at a higher price, especially farmers from Saqani, Bua and Taveuni.”

Miliana Vasia, a yaqona farmer from Dogotuki, Macuata, feels the price of the yaqona would depend on the weather.

“For the past two months we have not been experiencing favourable weather conditions,” Mrs Vasia said.

“It is not only this time but like other years also when there is too much rain and less sunshine waka is in limited supply.

“Hopefully now that the bad weather has cleared probably in another four weeks time the price of waka will get back to normal like $30 per kilogram.”

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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