Page 32 - IB April 2022

APIA MARKET GOES

VIRTUAL the islands of Savai’i and Manono, but the challenge for the

outer islands was the extra preparation time to cart their produce
across to the designated delivery node in Apia.
WIBDI also saw the success in the programme by opening

arena.
VENDORS TAKE TO THE ‘CLOUD’ the virtual market place doors to other stakeholders in the local
This included the Poutasi Development Trust (PDT), Samoa
TO SELL THEIR WARES Victims Support Group (SVSG), Savai’i Farmers Association and
Samoan Women in Agriculture (SWAG).
Popular produce that was purchased included, Ofu Limu
(seaweed), smoked fish and chicken, seafood, cooked Samoan
A decade ago, the virtual world was where your senses The event proved to be the catalyst in linking farmers and food, chicken soup, vegetable seedlings and honey.
needed to be heightened if you were dealing with money and urban Samoan populace, bolstering supplier and consumer The innovative consumer interface, a brainchild of WIBDI
the exchange of goods. relationship at a time where it could not have been possible. and in collaboration with Skyeye unravelled the wonders of the
This was mainly due to bad experiences with scamsters, Adimaimalaga Tafuna’i, WIBDI’s Executive Director said that worldwide web in connecting Samoa’s rural farmers with their
money laundering practices that inundated cyberspace with the before the official launch of the virtual market in May of 2020, urban consumers in a way like never before.
cunning ploy to gain unlawfully from vulnerable people online. there had already been some talk with Skyeye on the venture. Forty families participated in the two markets that were
But as the world would find a little over a year ago, Coronavirus It all came to being however when COVID-19 hit. held in June and July 2020 generating an income of between
turned the tables when borders closed and a host of restrictions “With COVID-19 happening and we’re not able to be together WST$3800 and $4300.
crippled many economies in our part of the Pacific Ocean. in groups, I spoke to Sam because Skyeye always talked about “I thank God for promoting Skyeye, which has the technical
This in turn brought about refined security measures in the pop-up markets,” said Tafuna’i. know-how to partner with us in this endeavour.
virtual world that quickly made it a platform to communicate “The exciting thing was that the farmers are going to earn some “It gave us the encouragement to push through this virtual
and trade among other things. money, while having to grasp the fact that all this is happening market for the farmers and rural communities,” added Fuimaono
A success story that is coming out of Samoa is Women in virtually.” Rosalia Me, WIBDI’s Protocol and Cultural Specialist.
Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI) that has developed But it was not all plain sailing, one major aspect of the venture As the players involved in making it a success will attest to, the
a virtual market place to keep those in their agriculture sector was creating a keen awareness for the farmers to come on board. new era of information technology has brought about changes
engaged by selling produce during the State of Emergency “Trying to get them interested or even used to using apps is that they can only build on as the world finds ways of adapting
(SOE) decreed by the national government in the height of the something very different, but they didn’t have to do much of that to the Coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 pandemic. themselves because Skyeye did a lot of it virtually.” Whatever and however it happens, one thing is for sure
The aim simply is to get the traditional farmers to connect But perhaps the most exciting bit was the virtual market – the virtual market place is the platform for the
with their buyers on a platform that was not as restrictive as the starting to take shape and coming into being. future.
normal way with the SOE that started around March 2020. “The mobile app has just been amazing in bringing the market
To make it work, WIBDI had to partner with renowned local to them - not bringing them to sit at the market. It was a really This is one of a series of impact stories featured in the Pacific
information technology outfit – Skyeye Pacific. awesome partnership.” Farmer Organisations undertaken by members in 9 Pacific
“Skyeye’s solution is to make life easier and we have the The MAUA – Samoan e-commerce platform was used as Island Countries under the Farmers’ Organizations for
technology and the know-how to help our people especially the medium of communication between the farmers and Africa, Caribbean and Pacific – fo4acp programme – which is
those in the grassroots community to sell their produce the consumers, and transactions were made via the M-Tala managed by Pacific Farmer Organisations and funded by the
online without them having to come to a marketplace,” said electronic payment services. European Union (EU), the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)
Fa’aso’otauloa Sam Saili Jr the Skyeye Pacific- Maua App Chief Farmers were paid on the spot upon delivery. group of countries and the International Fund for Agricultural
Executive Officer. Pre-ordering enabled the programme to extend its reach to Development (IFAD).
32 Islands Business, April 2022