The Suva City Council has outlined a feasible plan to cater for additional spaces needed for additional vendors who rush in on the biggest market days of the week.

Ensuring operation in a COVID-safe environment but at the same encourage vendors to earn the much-needed income, an example of this was evident the past Saturday.

More than 1300 vendors converged at the market over the weekend, according to figures compiled by the Suva City Council.

Below is the plan:

• Temporary vendors give vegetable suppliers more time to clear their stock from the MPI Carpark.
• The suppliers have only until 9.30am to sell their stocks and clear the area.
• A special space at the carpark is allocated for the wholesalers

Sigatoka wholesaler and farmer, Mahesh Deo, said more farmers and suppliers are coming to Suva.

“The time that was given to us to sell our stock was not enough,” he said.

“We still had loads of stock left to sell. We needed more time but I am happy that the council is willing to give that to us.”

Another wholesaler, Jonetani Ratu, said the vendors had also changed the way they were buying.

“Before they would buy five to six bags at one time,” he said.

“Lately, they are buying one or two bags. After they sell those, they come for more.”

The council employees finished cleaning the market at 2am on Sunday. Rubbish collected required five skip bins.

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