Green Gold Alabaster Plant Like No Other
“A plant takes eight years to mature, when we first bought a plant it had cost $90; from that we were able to get more seedlings after three years. The plants are sold for $20 each and that is very affordable because you only need one to start with depending on how serious you plan invests in.”
Thursday 30 January 2020 | 12:10
Nemaia Salavo selling his produce in front of FoodCity Supermarket, Suva on January 29, 2020. Photo: Susana Tuilau
We have made this accessible so you have no excuse not to venture into the alabaster business says vendor Nemaia Salavo.
“Many people doubt venturing out to be an alabaster farmer; their doubt will bring them nothing,” Mr Salavo said.
“Many Fijians know of the plant, it has even been featured on radio and TV.
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“By the time they realise how valuable this is; the opportunity has passed.
“A foreign investor could come today and buy hundreds of plants and by the time the landowners wake up the foreigner is making millions and the landowners haven’t even started.”
More than six years ago Mr Salavo first heard of the plant. Three years ago he finally found the plant and it has now been more than a year since he has been selling the seedlings.
“It takes three years for the plant to flower and form seedlings which we then put into pots and raise them up in our nursery in Vuci, Nausori then sell them.
“A plant takes eight years to mature, when we first bought a plant it had cost us $90; from that we were able to get more seedlings after three years.
“The plants are sold for $20 each and that is very affordable because you only need one to start with depending on how serious you plan to invest in.
The 47-year-old grandfather from Lovoni, Ovalau also sells the famous Warusi juice at $10 a bottle.
He has been selling the juice for more than 15 years. He brings the plant from Levuka, cooks the traditional juice, bottles and labels them before selling them.
He delivers the juice to Lautoka, Sigatoka, Nadi and around Suva.
You can easily spot him in front of the FoodCity Supermarket in Suva or stall 99 at the Suva Flea Market.
Alabaster seedling. Photo: Susana Tuilau
Feedback: susana.tuilau@fijisun.com.fj
