THE Farmers Day competition during Rotuma Day celebrations continues to highlight the dedication and hard work of farmers who provide for their families and communities through agriculture.
Farmer of 15 years Pat Veu from Itu’ti’u district said the annual event gave farmers an opportunity to showcase produce they had spent months growing and nurturing.
Mr Veu, who won last year’s yam and taro category, said farmers constantly challenged themselves to improve their crops each year despite weather conditions and other farming difficulties.
“Every year we try and break the record,” he said.
The heaviest yam recorded this year weighed 137 kilograms.
He said farming remained an important part of family life in Rotuma because many households depended on crops such as yam and taro grown in their own back yards.
“But for our families, we have a lot of yams and taro.
“We produce this in our own back yards and provide for our families.”
Mr Veu said older farmers were always eager to pass on their knowledge and skills to younger Rotumans to ensure farming traditions continued for future generations.
He said many farmers learned through experience from their elders while growing up on the island.
The annual Farmers Day competition has become one of the major highlights of Rotuma Day celebrations.
