For over 10 years, Uate Sele Vuniwaqa worked as a surveyor with the Public Works Department.
But today, he stands proudly as a full-time farmer, driven by the belief that the land holds endless opportunities to grow.
In 2009, he made a bold decision to resign from his stable government job and returned to the simple village environment he was brought up in as a child.
“What drew me back to the land was the promise of honest hard work and the chance to build something meaningful with my own hands,” he said.
Originally from Mavana, Vanuabalavu in Lau, Uate now plants root crops and vegetables on his two to three acres of land.
“What I grow feeds my family first and foremost. Any surplus supports the village, especially people like single mums and widows.”
With five children, including his eldest 23-year-old second-year engineering student, Uate is proud that farming has helped him raise and support his family.
He grew up in the village, served as head boy of Adi Maopa Secondary School in 1999, and later studied at the Fiji Institute of Technology’s School of Building and Civil Engineering.
After ten years in the civil service, he chose the hard path, believing there was real money and real purpose in the soil.
Uate’s days begin before sunrise. He works the land, returns briefly for breakfast, then heads back out again before the sun gets hot. His discipline is unwavering, he avoids grog, stays focused, and treats farming as a profession rather than a pastime.
Among his greatest supporters are his wife and children, who often join him on the farm during weekends.
But like many farmers today, his greatest challenges include irregular access to seeds, limited tools, and the absence of machinery.
He hopes that agriculture officers stationed on the island and Government support will help provide seeds, basic tools, and equipment like chainsaws to expand land clearing and increase production.
He says with just a little help, he could grow far more for his family and his village.
Despite the challenges, Uate has a message for young people: “To all the young men in Suva with no jobs — go back to the village. The land is waiting for you.”
” There is opportunity here, and you can earn an honest living. Farming can build your future, you just need to work hard.”
He also urges people to return to healthier, natural foods instead of relying on processed foods high in salt, fat, and sugar that are accessible on shop shelves
Uate’s story is a reminder that success doesn’t always come from offices in the city. Sometimes, it comes from the earth and the willingness to get your hands dirty.
