IN the heart of Bureiwai in Nakorotubu, Ra, a group of hardworking farmers toil the land daily
These men and women under the Yaukawa Cluster Farmers have quickly paved a way for themselves in commercial farming – simply to overcome the hardship of poverty.
From land preparation, planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, storing, packing and selling, these farmers are proving that determination and tough grind is a solution to becoming successful in life.
The cluster which flourishes under the solesolevaki concept contributes to food security and quickly meets the growing market demand for fresh local produce.
What started as a small cluster with three men last year has grown to 13 men and women working tirelessly to produce fresh grown produce for Fijians.
Most of the farmers who are part of the cluster are from Soa Village in Nakorotubu, Ra.
Farm Operation
The farmers harvest their crops three times a week, making sure fresh produce are supplied to the Suva market.
Yaukawa Cluster Farmers co-founder, Alipate Ake said every farmer was assigned a specific task to do daily.
“We have women that cook our meals and the rest of us work in our different workstations,” he said.
“I look after our bio-mature, manage our reports and online updates, one or two will look after the clearing of trees for our new farmland, another will look after the crops that have been planted, one operates the heavy machinery like our digger, and one will sell the produce at the market and buys what we need.
“The one who sells at the market takes care of pricing, finances, seedlings varieties, what crops are in demand at the market and transport our produce.
He said assigning people to specific tasks eases the workload for everyone.
“We all come together for harvest, planting and farm upkeep.”
Production
“This is our first year, we started in September 2024. We started farming with chillies, long beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet corn and French beans.
“Our big and fast crop is the chillies. We have 8000 chilli plants at the farm.
“Last month we managed 2.5 tonnes of cucumbers, 1.5 tonnes of chillies and half a tonne of French beans.
“Our long beans were affected by a disease, so we only produced 10 dozen of them.
In just one harvest last week, the group managed 142kg of bongo chillies, 200kg of cucumbers, 45kg of tomatoes and 1kg of long beans.
“What pulled us through last month was our chillies and cucumbers. From just a single cucumber trellis we had a really good harvest.
Now the group is expanding their farm to eggplants, watermelons and in the future root crops.
The group has cleared another block called muani vanua which is 1.859 hectares of land for their chillies.
“We hope to plant 30,000 chilli plants on that piece of land as it’s been a good source of income for us.
“And since this part of the district hasn’t been affected by any disease (on chilli plants) yet, we want to make the most out of planting chillies.
“One plant can produce $5 worth of chillies so it’s been a good source of revenue for us so far. We hope this will continue in the next few years.”
Overcoming Poverty
Ake said they had formed the cluster to overcome poverty in the village.
“We want to show people what can be achieved if we change our mindset,” he said.
“Three of us initially started the cluster and now it has grown to 13 people earning an income and setting up their savings.
“When we started, we would ask villagers when we returned to Soa about the hardship they faced, especially financially.
“From there we realised that a lot of us struggle to make ends meet from subsistence farming back in the village.”
He said their cluster wanted their farmers to never ever struggle like before.
“We want them to take something back home to their families every week and be able to save money.
“Our future plan is that after five years we can offer our farmers more and increase their pay, and they can go further to create their own clusters.
Helping the Community
The cluster does not discriminate; it offers work equally to both men and women who want to earn a living.
“We offer women, especially single mothers, work, those that are interested to earn something for their family back at home.
“We just finished assisting a village women’s club. They wanted to buy a storage cabinet worth $700 so we offered some work for them to do on the farm.
“They were able to complete the work, and they bought a cabinet for the school with the money they earned.
“We also shared our vision and what we aim to achieve with the women.
“It was great to have them here because women spread information faster and we need people to know about the work we do at the farm so it can encourage others to do the same.”
He said they wanted to share their knowledge within the province so that it could help villagers thrive in their own communities using their own resources.
Members of the Yaukawa Cluster Farmers at their farm in Bureiwai in Nakorotubu, Ra. Picture: ALIFERETI SAKIASI
They truck is loaded for the Suva market. Picture: YAUKAWA CLUSTER FARMERS
The group managed 142kg of bongo chillies, 200kg of cucumbers, 45kg of
tomatoes and 1kg of long beans last week.
Picture: YAUKAWA CLUSTER FARMERS
The cluster which flourishes under the solesolevaki concept contributes to food security and quickly meets the growing market demand for fresh local produce. Picture: ALIFERETI SAKIASI
The group started farming with chillies, long beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet corns and French beans. Picture: ALIFERETI SAKIASI
Last week the group
harvested 45kg of
tomatoes. Picture: YAUKAWA CLUSTER FARMERS
From just a single cucumber trellis the group have had a really good harvest. Picture: ALIFERETI SAKIASI
The French beans packed for the market. Picture: YAUKAWA CLUSTER FARMERS
