With the recent increase in lamb prices, a local importer is calling on people to look at our own meat industry.

Christopher Yee, manager for Leylands Butchers said each time their stock of lamb runs low, they use $60-70 thousand dollars just to bring in more lamb from New Zealand, and Yee adds that this money can be used in the local beef and fish industry.

Fijivillage news did a survey which showed that on average, the price of lamb has risen to average of $3 a kg from last week.

Yee adds that if locals look at the meat available here, they will be able to realise that the same amount of protein is available locally and that consumers should eat more fish, beef and pork.

A shortage overseas coupled with the recent devaluation of the Fiji dollar has pushed up the price of lamb.