In support of the banana distribution system

Dear Editor,

Re: Bananas distribution

I say the commercial farmers given priority and the small holder farmers be given a gradual development programme to get them up to speed. 

This is in the interests of getting sustainable consistent supply to the market in NZ. The Minister is correct.


He must protect the consistency of supply, otherwise if (as has happened so often in the past) smallholder farmers dominate the supply, they will be inconsistent. One month a full container, the next month, half a container. 

This is why Samoa has a bad reputation in markets like NZ - the inconsistency of supply. The commercial farmers are experienced, they have the money to invest, and therefore they are able to obtain that higher rate of supply. 

This benefits all banana farmers because NZ will then think “ok, Samoa has been providing consistent supply for several months now, we will not only keep buying from there but we will increase our demand for Samoan banana imports”.

The result is the market is expanded and the smallholder farmers share of the supply will increase (not as big as the commercial farmers, but at least they get a bigger piece of the pie). 

If the market collapses, nobody gets anything, especially the smalltime farmers.


Petelo Suaniu 


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