From prison to planting, Bua inmates rebuild

A farming initiative in Bua Province is offering inmates a second chance by turning barren land into a source of income and stability ahead of their release.

The rehabilitation effort by the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) prepares inmates nearing the end of their sentences for life outside prison.

Through the solesolevaki (communal) programme, inmates are supported with access to land, crops and community backing to help them restart their lives.

FCS manager legal and Assistant Superintendent Samisoni Naba said the initiative ensured inmates did not return home empty-handed.

“The solesolevaki programme is an incentive,” he said.
“We assist prisoners before their release so that when they go back, they already have something on their land.”

He said inmates were helped to plant root crops, which could be used for food or sold for income.

The programme begins a year before release. FCS officers work with families and village leaders to secure land within their mataqali.

Once approved, the land is cultivated with crops such as cassava and dalo, providing a ready source of livelihood.

Beyond farming, the initiative is also strengthening ties between communities and former offenders — an important step in reducing reoffending.

Mr Naba said the FCS, together with the provincial council, was working to establish a committee to support ex-offenders.

“This will help them locate land and guide them as they reintegrate into society,” he said.

In the district of Vuya, community leaders have welcomed the programme, saying it reflects the value of working together.

Mata ni tikina for Vuya in Nabouwalu, Sitiveni Namua, said the initiative was already creating positive change.

“When people return home and are supported by their families and villages, they can rebuild their lives,” Mr Namua said.
“Farming keeps them busy and helps them provide for themselves.”

Officials believe the solesolevaki programme could become a model for rehabilitation across the country, replacing stigma with support and giving former inmates a path to rebuild their lives.