Sudesh Kumar Singh at his stall at the Lautoka Market on April 11, 2018. Photo: Arvind Pillay
For the love of farming, Sudesh Kumar Singh shares the secret behind his flourishing 36-year-old market business.
“It is all about dedication, commitment, passion and hard work because in the end it all pays off,” Mr Singh said.
“If you choose to go in this line of business, you will never lose because there is no reason for anyone not to make any profit since everybody eats, meaning everyone buys from the market,” he said.
The 54-year-old Waiyavi, Lautoka based farmer said selling at the market has enabled him support his family’s financial needs.
“I was able to put my daughters through school up to the university level, buy a car, build a house and other investments that me and my family now have.”
Like most things, he said the challenges were always there, but once one overcomes it was all worth it.
He also owns a 30-acre vegetable plantation at Sigatoka Valley in Kavanagasau.
“The only real challenge in this line of business is being able to compete with the prices of our competitors which are the people right next to us, but despite that everybody makes a profit.”
Mr Singh is a pineapple and watermelon farmer and vendor who also sells other fruits and vegetables.
“On a normal week I can make up to $1000 or more, but during some unfavorable conditions I make just above $600 but never less than that in a week,” he said.
“But the sales do really come in during the festive seasons and other religious festival dates.”
Mr Singh highlighted that market vending apart from profitable required commitment and dedication.
