By: Juliana Iikela and Hertha Ekandjo

 

The watermelon harvesting seasons offer opportunities for numerous traders to distribute watermelons across the country and earn an income.

However, street vendors and other informal traders struggle as they face competition from large retailers, limiting their flexibility in adjusting prices.

A businesswoman specialising in horticulture products shared her struggles in capitalising on watermelon distribution with The Villager.

The vendor highlighted the difficulty of being a fresh produce trader, citing challenges such as produce spoilage due to lack of proper storage.

The delicate balance of pricing was also noted, as reducing prices could lead to a lack of profitability.

Customers’ preferences for cold watermelons from stores further add to the complexities faced by street vendors.

continue reading