DESPITE the responsibilities of caring for her children, Repeka Vakaloloma Cati travelled to attend the three-day 2026 National Women in Agriculture Symposium at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.
With her three-week-old baby in her arms, the young farmer quietly took notes at the symposium – determined not to miss an opportunity that could change her family’s future.
A mother of seven children, Repeka Vakaloloma Cati had not dreamt of becoming a farmer.
However, life had other plans.
Her journey to the symposium began unexpectedly when her sister-in-law tagged her in an online post about the event, which focuses on supporting women farmers and building market connections.
“I just applied online thinking, just apply. If I didn’t get selected then it’s okay, at least I tried,” she said.
Two weeks later, she received a phone call from a friend informing her that she had been selected to attend.
Ms Cati said she was grateful for the opportunity and credited her husband for supporting her decision to attend.
“The whole reason of being here is because my husband said, ‘Yes, you can go.’”
Today, she and her husband are full-time farmers, growing pineapples and dalo on their farm in Namulomulo Village in Vugalei, Tailevu.
Their farming journey began more than a decade ago when her father-in-law started pineapple planting.
“My father-in-law started with just about nine pineapple plants. From there we continued the work. Now we have more than 2000 pineapple plants on the farm.”
The family sells their pineapples at a simple roadside stall, a small but effective way of generating income.
That income supports their entire household — from food on the table to their children’s education.
“Everything comes from the land,” she said.
“We don’t buy root crops because we grow them ourselves, but the money from pineapples helps with school needs, lunches, church contributions and village obligations.”
Last year, the family achieved a major milestone.
“We bought a car through our pineapple farming. We are very grateful because a vehicle is very important for a family living in a farming area.”
She said the farming experience had been life changing.
“The networking is the main reason I came. I’ve learnt a lot of new things like e-commerce and how farmers can connect to bigger markets.”
She also learnt the importance of formally registering farms and roadside produce sales to access government support and avoid legal issues.
“It’s like another door to another world that I didn’t know existed.”
She hopes the new connections made during the symposium will open doors to larger markets.
Representatives from organic farming networks and hospitality businesses have already shown interest in tasting their produce.
However, consistency in supply will be the key challenge.
“If the market is there, then we will have to provide the consistency.”
Like many farmers, climate change has also affected their harvest.
“The sun is too strong, the rain is heavy and the droughts are longer. Our harvest this year was not as big as last year.”
Despite these challenges, the family continues to adapt by diversifying their crops, planting dalo during the pineapple off-season so there is always produce available for sale.
Although farming comes with long hours, limited tools and the constant challenge of balancing home and work, Ms Cati remains determined.
“Managing the house and the farm is not easy,” she said.
“But we continue.”
She shared that her greatest motivation is her children.
“They are the reason why we want our business to grow and why we continue farming.”
For other mothers trying to balance family and ambition, she shares a message of encouragement.
“Mothers are nurturers. Don’t let your challenges pull you back.
“You have to look forward and keep going.”
Her daily reminder, she says, is grounded in faith.
“Always be thankful to God for whatever He provides each day. The main thing is the breath of life. If you have that, then you can do anything.”
