In the village of Moana, Toga in Rewa, is an organisation of women that strives for the economic viability of their family and communal setting.

The Duisena Horticulture group was established by 10 women who thought of generating income for their family.

Member, Esita Koro, 58, is the sole breadwinner of her family, and for her, the money she collects from selling her flowers helps to sustain her obligations towards her children’s education and as well as religious and village obligations.

Ms Koro and the other members of the Duisena Horticulture were part of the agriculture show held at Syria Park in Nausori yesterday.

She said: “We usually sell our plants in Suva, but because it was too costly for us to travel to and from Suva, we had to wait for agriculture shows like this.

“Or we sell along the roadside during week days or weekends. For us, it is a blessing for a woman to earn $50 or $100 in a day or week.”

However, she said, the income they earned was usually divided among the responsibilities that surrounded life in the village.

Also present at the show were members of the Wainicawa nursery, an organisation that was established in February this year by six men of Navunisole, Namalata in Tailevu.

These men saw the idea of having a yaqona nursery to help rehabilitate their agricultural crops that were destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Winston last year.

Chairman, Elia Tinaviti, 55, said: “We are currently utilising a 20-acre land. What we are doing is planting 10,000 young yaqona plants that we have brought to showcase and sell here with a pot being sold for $5.”

Mr Tinaiviti said they were hoping to earn about $40,000 after the agriculture show.

The nursery was funded by a $12,000 grant from the Fiji Crop Livestock Council.

He said apart from trying to financially help their family and organisation, their plan was to also help the people of Fiji with an incentive plan at their retirement age, through the sale of young yaqona plants.

The other members of the organisation are Leone Kurulala, 60, Farasiko Tubuitamana, 62, Isei Duidelavuvu, 73, Alevio Basaga, 53 and Setevano Raivuni, 46.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Viam Pillay, said Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, was focused on developing farming system approach to minimise or mitigate climate change through:

1. Promotion of integrated farming system;

2. Strengthening of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) initiative;

3. Investment in Research & Development for drought resilient commodities; and

4. Proper management of farming systems.

Mr Pillay also reaffirmed Government’s support for agriculture saying: “Agriculture will remain a big and important player in Government’s efforts to lift economic activity in the Central Division, ensuring that wealth is fairly shared and employment opportunities made available to a wide cross section of communities.”

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