Hydroponic farming a source of income for Akesa’s family
Bearing in mind her age Ulamila Akesa was confident that Hydroponic farming would be her best option to keep occupied as the family searched for a source of income. Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture, the method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. Ms Akesa is one of the seven students, who graduated with a Hydroponic Farming Certificate, from the Fiji Muslim League’s Makoi Women’s Vocational Training Centre on Thursday.
The 57-year-old, mother of five children, said when her husband retired, they had to look for an alternative source of income to provide for their family. “I came to know about this institution through church members who had graduated from here. “My husband was the sole breadwinner of the family so when he retired he decided to farm to continue providing for our family and our youngest child was still in primary school,” Ms Akesa said.
“At our age farming the land was a huge challenge. That was when I decided to learn hydroponic farming by joining the school to lighten the burden. “Hydroponic farming is something totally new for me and learning it for free was a blessing.”
What I have learned in the eight weeks will help my family. I thank the teachers for teaching us in a way that made us understand and get the message across
Ms Akesa said she would put her new skills to good use. “What I have learned in the eight weeks will help my family. I thank the teachers for teaching us in a way that made us understand and get the message across,” she said.
“I would like to thank the president of the Fiji Muslim League and its committee for providing such a school for women like us in Fiji.”