Fijian In The US Invests In Project To Help Villagers Back To Farming

A Fijian living in the United States has invested into a newly-established non-government organisation (NGO) that will see about 2000 members of a landowning unit benefitting.

Nakovacake Care is the brainchild of former journalist, Siteri Qoro.

With the motto Lavejia Cake Na Lem Vanua (uplift your province) and We Build, We Elevate, this was the main reason behind establishing Nakovacake Care, which is aimed at helping villagers who’ve lost jobs from the COVID-19 crisis.

What do they do?

Launched last Saturday at Navoci village, Nadi, and registered under the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation’s Social Services Department, secretary Nimirote Seasea said it is driven by three pillars:

• Food Security,
• Land stability and
• To be a major contributor to the Fijian economy

Mr Seasea said: “We grew up during an era, that is the Navakai people, where our forefathers used to supply pure sugarcane to the mill. It was the best quality and the farmers reaped a good reward.

“Today, those lands are now rezoned. Today’s generation are more focused on the tourism sector but our active involvement and contribution towards the Nadi basin has not changed.

“We are taking the cue from where our forefathers left off and returning to the land where we hope to revive some of the old farming practises, create food security for our members, and secure their future.”

Since Saturday, five clusters were given farming tools and equipment to start up their village gardens.

Funds have been additionally pouring in from those who have links to the Nakovacake and mainly overseas residences have sent their pledges.

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