FOR Devendra Singh of Qereqere, Bua, yaqona is the foundation of his livelihood and the measure of his resilience.
Managing over 3,000 plants across 45 acres, Singh has built his farm through persistence and careful planning, harvesting three times a year with around 500 plants each cycle.
The rewards of his hard work are visible in the investments he has made – machinery, vehicles, yaqona pounding machine, a solar dryer and the construction of firewood fuelled yaqona drier for rainy season that strengthen his farming operations and reflect the stability he has achieved.
Behind the numbers, however, is a story of struggle and determination.
Singh has faced the frustration of thieves who not only steal but also harvest prematurely, undermining months of effort.
He has also battled kava dieback, a disease that has crippled many farmers in the North.
Instead of giving in, Singh chose to fight back, he hired contract workers to secure his harvests and introduced a greenhouse system to raise seedlings.
This innovation gave him control over plant health and reduced the impact of dieback, ensuring that his farm could continue to thrive.
His yaqona reaches roadside stalls and the Labasa market, where it sells between $130 and $170 per kilogram across three grades and buyers know his produce for its consistency and quality.
Singh has also diversified into turmeric, showing foresight in making sure his land continues to generate value beyond yaqona.
What makes Singh’s story worthy is not just the scale of his farm but the way he has responded to challenges.
He has turned setbacks into opportunities, investing in solutions that protect his crops and secure his future.
His success supports local employment, assistance in times of need for communities around him and strengthens the supply of yaqona to Labasa.
Singh’s journey offers a lesson for other farmers that challenges will always come but success lies in how you respond, protect your crops, invest in solutions that strengthen your farm and diversify to secure your future.
