FARMING | Yaukawa Cluster Farmers, contributing to food security

YAUKAWA Cluster Farmers has sowed a seed that will help generation of farmers in the district of Nakorotubu, Ra.

This group of hardworking farmers encountered many challenges when starting their cluster – with financial constraint a major barrier to their dream.

With great determination, this group of farmers did not let their financial limitation stop them from fulfilling their dream of becoming productive farmers.

While many did not believe in their dream, the group knocked on doors to seek guidance and assistance in making their aspiration a reality.

MORDI Trust

MORDI (Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation) Trust in Tonga was instrumental in the progress of the cluster. It was through their assistance that the Yaukawa Cluster Farmer managed to establish their own farm in Bureiwai.

Yaukawa Cluster Farmers co-founder, Alipate Ake was able to get the Trust to lend them some money to help them get started.

“I’m a landowner in Tonga and I’m part of the Mordi Trust. The trust over the years have created and helped clusters in Tonga just like Yaukawa.

“I brought that idea here, implemented it so it can help us create revenue for ourselves simply by using our natural resources,” Ake said.

“I had asked the Trust if it could assist in creating a cluster that would generate income through sustainable commercial farming, it agreed.

“They assisted us by lending us money to buy a digger, a twin-cab and money to cover operational costs within a six months period. After the six months, they let us run on our own.”

Since being established in September 2024, the group has been able to run successfully and has even paid back Mordi Trust.

“We paid off what we owed the Trust, now we pay our farmers every week and fill our cash pool.

“We are truly grateful to the Trust and what it has done for us.

The cluster uses its digger to clear the land for planting and their twin-cab transport their crops to the Suva market.

Cash pools and savings

In order to function better, the group created special cash pools for rainy days.

“We have cash pools where we save money for certain things we need or have to participate in.

“We have a main pool and small ones for funerals and education.

“As iTaukei people living in the village, one thing that we cannot avoid is unexpected events like funerals.

“All of us have to contribute to funerals in the village, so for us it was important to have a specific pool that can address important family events.

“When we need to, we take money from those pools and then repay it gradually, that way our farmers don’t have to look elsewhere for funds during an emergency. The pool funds are replenished with a $5 deduction from the worker who has taken cash from the pool.

The cluster members have also gone into saving their hard-earned money.

Farmer, Losevata Likuivalu said ever since she started working for the cluster, she and her husband have been able to contribute to their family and village obligations.

“Working every week at the farm has allowed us to earn a decent living. We’re able to buy what we need for our family and also put money aside for our village soli.

“We have also saved money at the Fijian Holdings Unit Trust, which is a big step for us as a young family.

“We used to talk about doing something like saving money through a trust for the future, farming in this cluster has allowed us to do that.

“We are grateful to be a part of it and we hope more people will take this idea and apply it in their villages.”

Sharing Knowledge

Members of the cluster share their knowledge with each other.

Digger operator for the cluster, Luke Nagumatua Koro, said he was happy to be part of the cluster.

“Not only do I do excavation work for the cluster, I also help with the toiling of the land.

“I’ve learned a lot about farming from the members and I’ve seen each member contribute positively to their communities.

“We are here for a purpose and that is to successfully provide for our families now and for the future.

“Our goal is when we move out of here, we’re able to start our own farming cluster in our villages and share the knowledge with others.

Farmer, Sowane Nasimira said being part of the cluster has broadened his understanding about farming, particularly cash-crops.

“We have also learned a different side of solesolevaki, where everyone works together but gets paid individually.

“I continue to learn more from the group and hope to share the knowledge with those interested so it can help increase productivity in villages.

“We have also seen what works and what doesn’t, we now better understand the crops we are working with. This knowledge can help us and others in improving their farming methods.

The farmers since 2024 have learned about seed varieties, organic pest control, crop rotation and composting.