The market women who transport vegetables daily from the villages to urban settlements, locally known as ‘Jehnda Jaii’ complained about the difficulties affecting their businesses.
Many of these women struggle daily for transport with heavy baskets or bags full of vegetables in the early hours of the morning to support their families. Some of them say they live from hand to mouth, feeding on their daily earnings.
Aja Sanneh, a vegetable seller told The Fatu Network that she travels from Manduar everyday to sell at the Brikama Market. She sells carrots, garden eggs and bitter tomatoes. She said she gets supplies from a local producer.
“Whether we sell the goods or not we have to pay the money,” Aja Sanneh said.
“Sometimes, the goods get spoilt due to lack of timely transportation,” she added.
Aja said a bucket of carrots and garden eggs each costs D1, 500 Dalasi. She also pays a daily fares of D20 to Brikama.
“I buy breakfast and pay duty to the Area Council everyday”
She talked about the congestion of the market while the local rate collectors keep harassing them even after buying tickets.
She added that is one of their biggest problems. She also spoke about the difficulties she encounters in the rainy season, saying when it rains she cannot sell.
Fatou Jatta also travels from Busumbala everyday to sell onions and tomatoes at the Brikama market. She complained about suppliers who double their prices in the rainy season.
“I have to pay suppliers if the onions are not sold or get spoilt,” Fatou Jatta lamented.
Fatou said she buys onions from a local supplier in the neighbouring Cassamance, southern Senegal.
Binta Bojang, another middle aged woman comes from Lamin Village daily to sell potatoes at the Brikama market. She explained a similar experienced.
Meanwhile, these poor hardworking women told The Fatu Network that they are looking for support to promote their businesses.
