Fathers Inspire Tailevu Women To Venture Into Farming

Angela Amrita Prasad and Shareen Lata Prasad were guests at the gender supported programme hosted by the New Zealand High Commission at the Fijian Museum in Suva on July 13.

Both women hail from Waidalice, Korovou, in Tailevu, and are proud of their achievements.

Poultry farmer

Ms Angela believes every person has a purpose in life. To find hers, she chose to listen to her heart.

Angela Prasad tending to her chicks.

Ms Shareen also supports her husband in their dairy farm.

She was inspired by her father also to do dairy farming four years ago, and now has ventured into vanilla projects.

“Being from a farming background has kept me interested in farming. My dad is a dairy farmer,” she said.

“My husband started dairy farming four years and I was part of a group of women who were into farming.

“Last year, during the lockdown period, we got to know about vanilla farming through the Agriculture office in Tailevu.

“The group of 13 women received 50 vanilla cuttings from the Ministry of Agriculture. Today, we all have our own vanilla farm, which should be ready in a few years’ time.

“My husband and I manage the dairy farm, which has 13 cows: it’s our only source of income for now. But our vanilla will be ready in two years, and soon we will also be able to sell the vanilla cuttings, which can cost $1 a metre.”

“I wouldn’t have made it to breakfast with the ministers if I chose to not do anything, it really felt amazing to be out there.

“Women should have something on our hands, it feels good to support our family,” Ms Shareen said.

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