TANYA Yahuwah of Kadavu has never regretted making the bold decision to venture into farming.
Today, that choice provides her with a source of livelihood and comfort in times of financial hardships.
Tanya was one of many women who graced the National Women in Agriculture Expo 2025 held in Suva last week.
Her accomplishment shows that women can also thrive in male-dominated workplaces.
Being a full-time mother and entrepreneur, she and her husband worked hard to get where they are today.
This includes their decision to move back to the village after many years of working in the British Army.
“At the moment, we are focused on orchard farming,” Tanya said.
“We are working with the research section of the agriculture station in Sigatoka — they delivered the final number of lime plants.”
The couple received 150 lime seedlings as export plant stock.
“We lived overseas before, and we’ve seen many orchard businesses. We thought of planting fruits on our farms here in Fiji instead of having only root crops,” Tanya said.
“Unlike root crops and vegetables, for fruit trees and plants, you just plant once and harvest over a lifetime. This was the reason why we chose orchard fruits,
“Everyday, agricultural officers would go past our farm; that’s how the research station got interested in our business.
Tanya got her farming inspiration from her son.
“Every time my son ate a foreign fruit; he would bring me the seed and ask me to plant it.
When the couple moved back to Fiji, Tanya’s husband, who hails from Naitasiri, encouraged the family to move to the village and toil the land.
“It wasn’t really that hard for me because I knew I was just moving back home. Nothing has changed,” she said.
She said family support was important in any business.
“To withstand the obstacles that life throws at you, you need to have a supportive partner who shares the same goal and mindset you have.”
“That’s the most important thing you need to prosper,” she smiled.
