Local Samoan farmers fear competition will shut them out of the market
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The increase in numbers of Asian farmers selling their produce — in local stores, the Fagatogo market, on the street and to the School Lunch Program (SLP) concerns many local Samoan farmers. At times, Asian farmers have been known to sell directly to households produce they have been unable to sell commercially.
Moreover, the increased quantity of other agricultural products such as taro and vegetables entering the territory to be sold at local stores has become a serious concern for local Samoan farmers, who now have to compete not only with local Asian farmers but also with off-island farmers as well.
This is not a new issue and for many years local Samoan farmers have continued to voice their concern over the hardships they’re facing everyday when it comes to supporting their families.
The farmers told Samoa News that one of the problems they’re facing is the limited opportunity they have to sell their agricultural products to many local stores because the majority of local stores are owned and operated by Asians and they favor getting their products from the Asians farmers.
Read more: https://www.samoanews.com/local-samoan-farmers-fear-competition-will-shut-them-out-market