The demand for fresh produce in Port Moresby is ever increasing as the population increases. In Papua New Guinea, fresh produce is mostly supplied by informal business operators; however, they tend to face several challenges that restrict them from meeting the demand for the produce.
The National Research Institute (NRI) Spotlight Volume 16, Issue 8, titled "The Challenges faced by informal fresh produce vendors in Port Moresby" by Evelyn Malala, PNG NRI Project Research Officer, outlines the main types of challenges faced by informal fresh produce marketers and how the challenges can be addressed.
Among the challenges faced by informal fresh produce operators are the fact that retailers often lose money when they are supplied with poor quality and unripe fruits by wholesalers, either mistakenly or by trick. As retailers do not often have storage facilities, some of the produce may be damaged, and the retailers bear the loss. Also, market infrastructure and facilities are poor to non-existent.
Informal fresh produce operators who sell their produce in unplanned markets do not often have access to necessary facilities such as water and electricity that are needed for proper storage. There is a lack of demand or inadequate customers, especially for those that sell their produce in the outer suburbs.
Source: looppng.com