THE daily demands of farm work keep Ilisapeci Rokobiau busy, but providing for her family remains her biggest motivation.
The 48-year-old, originally from Serea, Naitasiri, has lived in Lomaivuna Sector 6 with her family for 27 years.
When the Fiji Times met her, she was at a nearby stream preparing to wash her laundry, a familiar part of her daily routine.
Married to a man from Nailaga, Ba, Rokobiau is part of a farming family that relies on the land to earn a living.
She said farming was a common source of income for families in the area, while some residents also earned money through handicraft work.
“Most families here in Lomaivuna are farmers. Those of us who do not work for companies, or the Government help our husbands on the farm to make a living,” she said.
“Others help by taking crops to the market to sell.”
Her family grows dalo and vegetables, although they do not sell their produce as regularly as some other farmers in the area.
In addition to working on their farm, Rokobiau sometimes joins other women from the sector at poultry farms, where they collect poultry manure.
The money earned is shared among those involved.
They also help on ginger farms with planting.
“We used to plant ginger before, but now we just focus on dalo farming,” she said.
With four children to support, Rokobiau said managing the household budget had become increasingly important as the cost of everyday items continued to rise.
Two of her children attend secondary school, while the other two are in primary school.
“What we earn also goes towards our children’s education,” she said.
For Rokobiau, every day’s work contributes to keeping the household going and ensuring her children have what they need for their education.
