Women embarks on food business

The Naiyalayala, Ra women started a trial last week in providing pre-cook food packs for FIJI Water employees.

The Naiyalayala district consists of five villages - Drauniivi, Togovere, Rabulu, Naseyani and Nananu.

The FIJI Water Foundation is working with Rise Beyond the Reef and Sera’s Gourmet in training groups of women in the five villages on food preparation and cooking, basic health procedures in food preparation, equipment and cooking utensils use, the cooking area and how they should work in hygienic areas of operations in various villages.

Naiyalayala spokesperson Vasiti Ritova said the women were prepared to continue with the requirement of the company.

“We started last week. We are on a trial run and officers of FIJI Water Foundation will return to put forward a plan on the way forward. Food packs only cost $7 each,” she said.

“There are at least 30 packs daily only for the day shift crew at FIJI Water. After packing in the village community hall kitchens, two women are assigned by our various women’s organisation presidents to accompany Fiji Water Foundation officials in ensuring the timely delivery of the food packs.

“The women are prepared to carry this further as the foundation put together their plans for us,” she added.

Ms Ritova who comes from Nananu Village established the Nananu Women’s Cooperative with women in her village for the purpose of forming a value-added activity for their economic empowerment.

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