Award winner eyes producing herbal medicine for the region

Healing people with herbal medicine has been a great opportunity for Ruci Hopkinson to add value to her work.
At the recent National Agriculture Show in Nadi, she won the Value Adding Crop Farmer of the Year award.
Ms Hopkinson, 62, owns a cottage industry in Kuludrusi Estate, Savusavu, producing virgin coconut oil, herbal medicines, and soap. Having been in the business for 25 years, she has proven that age is no barrier to achieving success.
“I operate the business from home and extract oil in my kitchen while managing both housework and the business,” Ms Hopkinson said.
“I was the first person in Fiji to make Dilo oil (loreal nut oil), and I have been making it for many years now.”
She is grateful to impart the teachings of her mother, which include the knowledge and techniques for making herbal medicines, oils, and soap. Among those she teaches are school students and people of all ages.
“The herbal medicines can be consumed as liquids, known as Kura juice, while the oil and soap are applied to treat skin diseases,” Ms Hopkinson said.
Skin cancer and ailments such as fungal infections, psoriasis, and leprosy are among the conditions treated by her herbal products.
Receiving a coconut scraper from the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways was a welcome boost to her business. She also purchased a seed oil presser machine with her own funds, used to extract oil from local seeds.
“I bought the machine from China through an online app for $300; it is the size of a sewing machine,” she said.
On soap making, Ms Hopkinson said the process is as simple as baking pancakes.
“Some of the 35 herbal leaves I use for herbal medicine include neem leaves, pawpaw leaves, lemon leaves, roman candle leaf, oleander leaves, and lantana leaves,” she said.
She manages every step on her own, from extracting coconut oil to making homemade labels, packaging, and transporting products to a Chinese shop for wholesale. Her stocks last six months a year, and she ensures that every product makes a lasting impact in treating people.
Having initially struggled due to lack of capital, Ms Hopkinson has succeeded through hard work and perseverance. Her main objective now is to make Fiji recognised for providing herbal care in the Pacific.