JYOTI PRATIBHA
NADARIVATU
Farmers in Nadarivatu highlands can feel the change in winds. With plans for NewWorld to open a cooling facility in the area, farmers are excited about the doors it would open.
Hundreds of farmers had the same story to tell about making the transition from subsistence farming to semi-commercial.
Salanieta Mataisiga comes from a farming background and has married into a farming family as well.
Her father-in-law, Nepani Mudu, has made successful transition into semi-commercial farming.
These days their focus is on cassava, papaya, capsicum amongst others.
While Salanieta and her husband concentrate mainly on yaqona farming, her father-in-law has made a name for himself in vegetable farming in Navai Village in Nadarivatu Highlands. Their village is more than two hour ride from Tavua town.
Every market trip for Mr Mudu costs $80 to Tavua with his vegetables and $150 to Lautoka market.
This is their major expense. Ms Mataisiga had heard about a cooling facility to be built in Nadarivatu, but she was unaware of the details.
For her, this would mean more money saved and no more market trips for the family.
Potato farmer Sinirusi Ketewai is currently not farming as some issues have come up with two mataqalis in the area. His land is in the centre of this dispute.
“At this moment, Government bulldozer is standing there but no work can be done because of the dispute between the two mataqali,” he said.
“It is a real shame that Government has done so much to revive farming here but because of internal bickering people are losing out on making money.”
Ownership of the land is being disputed by two mataqalis in Nadarivatu.
“TLTB (iTaukei Land Trust Board) and the Commissioner Western (Commander Joeli Cawaki) have been up here to try to solve this matter but some people are not willing to listen,” he said.
“About this initiative by Government to revive agriculture in this area, this is a great move, something which was needed.
“This will really assist our people in this area. We are often forgotten, maybe because we are up in the highlands.”
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