Honiara vendors face daily battles with fluctuating prices, extreme weather, and competition, struggling to survive.
“Yesterday, I sold a bundle of slippery cabbage for $20. It is because the demand for slippery cabbage was high but supply was low.” Jenny Faka, a vendor at Honiara Central Market, said prices of fresh produce at the market were never stable. Every day brings a new challenge—rising costs, unpredictable supply, and stiff competition in a market shaped by inflation, extreme weather, and shifting global prices.
For vendors like Jenny, setting prices is no longer straightforward. A sudden shortage of vegetables can push prices up, while an oversupply can force them to sell at a loss. These daily struggles paint a larger picture of an economy under pressure—one where local vendors must constantly adapt just to survive.
Inflation has made it even more difficult for vendors. The latest report from the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) reveals that inflation in the country reached 5% in January 2025, a sharp increase that has made essentials like fresh produce and household goods more expensive. While global economic conditions play a role, local supply challenges and unpredictable weather patterns are worsening the situation for vendors and consumers alike. With prices constantly shifting, vendors find it increasingly difficult to predict their earnings. Many have no choice but to pass higher costs onto customers, who in turn struggle to afford basic goods.
For farmers supplying the market, the unpredictability extends beyond prices. Weather conditions heavily influence what they can produce and sell.
Selwyn Mamou, a watermelon farmer from Malaita Province, shared his experience: “Right now, it’s the watermelon season, and the market is full of other vendors selling watermelon, so it’s harder to make sales.” Despite a good harvest, oversupply means lower prices and fewer profits.
The irony is that in just a few months, scarcity may drive prices back up again.
Rachel Maneka, a vegetable farmer from East Guadalcanal, faces a different challenge. She explains, “As much as I would like to plan for the future and live a good life, it’s quite challenging with the changing and adverse weather conditions.” Heavy rain can destroy crops, leading to shortages and price surges in the market. She says it is impossible to dream of a better future when her survival depends on her farm, which is frequently affected by bad weather. “I am just trying to stay alive through my day-to-day gardening,” she adds.
For some vendors, selling at the market is a means of survival rather than a long-term plan. Matthew Siama, a fish seller at the Honiara Central Market, admits that he has no future plans. “I am doing this just to pay for my children’s school fees and to put food on the table.” While most people have dreams for the future, for vendors like Matthew and Rachel, their immediate priority is making ends meet and ensuring their children receive a good education.
The struggles of local vendors are not just tied to inflation and weather. The arrival of foreign fishing boats has also changed the dynamics of the local fish market.
Rex Fifiri, a local fish seller and boat owner, explains: “Foreign fishing boats usually sell tuna at very low prices”.
When the weather is cooler in other regions, tuna, skipjack and yellow fin migrate to our waters attracting foreign fishing vessels as well. Fifiri says “this means local fishermen, like myself, who sell reef fish, struggle to compete with the flood of cheap tuna flooding the market.”
This not only affects their income but also impacts their ability to sustain their livelihoods. Although the Fisheries Management Act 2015 regulates foreign fishing activities, enforcement remains an issue.
The CBSI has indicated that it will maintain an accommodative monetary policy, aiming to balance inflation control with economic growth. This means the central bank will use strategies such as adjusting interest rates and ensuring liquidity in the market to stabilize inflation while still encouraging economic development. However, monetary policy alone is not enough. Government policies on agriculture, fisheries, and trade will be crucial in ensuring that local vendors are not left at a disadvantage against external competition. Subsidies or financial assistance for small-scale farmers could help them recover from extreme weather events, while stricter regulations on foreign fishing vessels could protect local fish vendors from unfair competition.
For example, farmers like Rachel Maneka from East Guadalcanal rely on small-scale farming, but unpredictable weather and lack of support make their work difficult. If the government improves access to agricultural subsidies, better irrigation systems, or climate-resistant seeds, small farmers could have more stable incomes despite bad weather conditions.
With inflation on the rise and economic uncertainty persisting, vendors in Honiara must rely on resilience and adaptability to stay afloat. But their challenges also highlight broader economic concerns that require government intervention. For now, vendors like Jenny, Rex, Rachel, and Selwyn continue to adjust to fluctuating prices and shifting market conditions. But their stories reflect a larger issue—one that affects every household in Solomon Islands. How the country navigates these economic uncertainties in the coming months will determine whether local vendors thrive or struggle to survive.
