A Dreketi farmer  now relies on Yam farming after he ventured into its commercialisation three years ago.

What started off as a yam farm for his own  use  with only a few plants in his farm, has now developed into tonnes of yam produced every year.

Ujagar Singh, who has a farm in Vunirewa Estate on the bank of the Dreketi River, is one of the heavy yam suppliers to Labasa market, often producing three to five tonnes every season.

Apart from this he plants all other crops from cassava, bean, watermelon, chillies, and so on with the exception of English cabbages.

Mr Singh is one of the few farmers that practice yam farming for commercial purposes in Macuata and he has reaped the benefits.

The Fiji Sun caught up with Mr Singh when he was supplying yam to his good friend and middleman Nidhan Singh.

“I sell yams in tonnes every season, which is from April to August, and so far it has been this business is flowing. I first farmed it because I loved it.

Now I am earning from it and I tell you, the demand is great,” he said.

Ujagar Singh supplies goods like ginger and cucumber to anyone who orders for it. He always sells his yam produce to market vendor Nidhan Singh.

Middleman Singh said; “People always love buying yams from here and because the demand is great, we earn a respective amount.”

The price of yam in the market is at $2 a kg.