FOR many families, the festive season is a time of celebration, but for 54-year-old Sireli Satavu, it marks a bold new chapter in his farming journey.
The lifelong farmer from Nahigatoka, who now lives in Lawai, is preparing to invest in farming machinery for the first time as he plans to venture into dalo farming.
Mr Satavu said he learned farming as a young boy working the plantation with his father. He’s spent most of his life planting seasonal crops such as cassava, cabbage, capsicum, tomato, long beans, and French beans.
“There was a year, I planted 100 lines of cassava. People used to place their orders and pick them up the next day.
“Back then, it was $50 a bag. Now, it’s up to $120.”
Mr Satavu said many people living around him owned land but did not farm it.
“Some have land, but they don’t plant. They work in town, so they come here to buy cassava or bananas.”
Despite working on a small scale, Mr Satavu has managed to support his family of five, selling both from home and at the market.
This month, he visited an agriculture supplier and received quotations for two machines — one costing around $666 and another worth more than $1700.
He said the equipment would help him start dalo farming, a crop not commonly planted in his area.
“I want to do proper farming now.
“I see people leaving their jobs and doing full-time farming. That’s what I want too.”
For Mr Satavu, Christmas is not about gifts or parties. Instead, his celebration will be an investment — a step toward a stronger, more modern farm.
“God provided for you to come here,” he said with a smile.
“This festive season, I want to increase my farming and move to the next level.”
With determination and faith, the Nahigatoka farmer is ready to make his biggest leap yet.
