IT isn’t the farm that makes a farmer, it’s the love, hardwork, character and getting the hands dirty.
At 60, Litea Matavesi epitomises the indomitable spirit of change and dedication, running a farm, along side her husband, in the interior of Naitasiri.
Born and raised in Samabula, Suva, she grew up in a family that balanced urban life with the rich traditions of farming.
“My dad, he farms too, and he had a taxi of his own,” Litea said.
“He drove his taxi and I heard that he was the third Fijian man who had a taxi base at the supermarket at the time.
“My mum, she stayed home. At times, she did weaving and sold handicraft to tourists.
“We also had a shop at home, which my parents made me in charge of.”
Litea’s education journey began at the Assemblies of God Primary School and attended The Fiji Institute of Technology and the University of the South Pacific, earning a double major in Management in Public Administration and IT.
Despite her academic achievements, her heart was always drawn to farming—a passion cultivated from childhood experiences alongside her father.
“There’s seven of us, two boys and five girls.
“We stayed with our dad, and most of the time, we did farming.
“When I was small, I liked to go fishing and planting. Those were the pastimes that I really liked.
Growing up with six siblings, Litea learned the value of working hard in a team setting.
She recalls climbing rooftops and helping her father maintain their home, instilling in her a practical understanding of sustainability.
Her father emphasised the importance of preparedness, teaching his daughters the skills needed for farming — an essential lesson for any Fijian woman.
“What I always remember him say is that in Fiji ‘we don’t know which part of Fiji we’d end up going to.
“So he used to tell us, ‘you know, I’m not forcing you…I just want to teach you and have yourself ready’”.
“Because if you happen to be married to one of the villages in Fiji, you still can manage.”
After marrying a schoolteacher, Litea moved with him from Suva to a village setting. She quickly adapted to her new life and ended up sacrificing her career and opting to spend her days on the farm while her husband worked and became headteacher.
Both retired, they now enjoy the solace and comfort of the green pastures of Lomaivuna, Naitasiri where they have a 10-acre farm.
“Moving from the city to a village setting wasn’t a big transition to be honest,”she said.
“That’s all thanks to my father’s teachings and what he made us do as children.”
Over the years, Litea has expanded their small farm to a thriving agricultural enterprise, demonstrating her commitment and dedication.
However, farming has not been without challenges. Litea faces issues with water supply to their poultry farm, requiring creativity and resourcefulness.
“Becoming a farmer means sacrificing your time and life to make sure things grow and for my husband that’s what I did.”
Litea’s s advice to the younger generation is: “Work hard, set achievable goals, and remain committed to faith.”
“There is no substitute for hard work and no better reward from sacrifices.”
