For 35-year-old Farzanah Bi Khan, diverging from her corn selling business is not an option she intends to pursue.
She feels that the successful business she currently operates in Wainadoi is enough to sustain her and her family in the long run.
Driving along the Queens Rd towards Nadi, one can find Ms Khan selling goods from her stall, stationed near the Wainadoi bridge.
Aside from the variety of vegetables, colorful flowers, and Indian snacks, you’ll also find a pot of corn sitting amongst the produce, just outside her stall.
Speaking to The Fiji Times, Ms Khan said the corn business started three years ago and over the years they have added a bit of flavour to it to satisfy the preference of their customers.
“I was born in Suva but live here in Wainadoi. This business was started by my parents when they retired from work, and they started off selling vegetables. However, after a while we decided to sell corn as well,” Ms Khan said.
“We started selling boiled corn with the vegetables, and other produce we had but after a while we decided to roast some to add more flavour and we’d add salt, chili powder and lemon and this was a sellout, especially to tourists.”
Like any other business, Ms Khan also faces challenges in relation to the prices of corn.
Since it is a seasonal vegetable, buying from farmers during off-season periods meant paying high prices compared to buying when it’s in-season.
But this is no deterrent for the mother of one as she faithfully declared her love for the corn business.
“This is something I found success in, so the challenges won’t stop me. I will keep moving forward, and I won’t look back because right now I have a secure customer base, something that businesses find hard to gain. “People know of my business, and they keep coming here.”
Corn lovers can buy her boiled corn for $1 each while roasted corns, with salt, chili and lemon are sold for $2 each.
