Waqavou to pursue agriculture studies amidst successful entrepreneurial journey
Melaia Waqavou, 23 years, is a businesswoman based at Natunuku in Ba. About Melaia Waqavou business The mother of one started her business in 2014 selling kava and cigarettes in her village.
This venture of hers was made possible through South Pacific Business Development (SPBD).
“I found out about SPBD when I was still schooling but a year later after hearing about how they help women set up businesses, I decided to join the micro finance unit with the support of my dad.
“My first loan was $450 through which I began my entrepreneurial journey,” she says. “Business performed remarkably well which encouraged her to go for her second loan of $950.
“I used it to extend my house and build a proper toilet and bathroom and set up a small canteen in the village which my aunt looks after,” says Ms Waqavou.
Financing of the business
She got her third loan of $1400 in 2016 which she used to buy cows and start her own cattle farm.
There is abundance of land in her village and seeing the opportunity she took a shot at cattle farming.
Ms Waqavou sought to diversify her business even more.
This led her to a fourth loan of $3000 in 2017, culminating in the purchase of a Yahama engine boat.
Her loan repayment for it ends in June this year.
Boat business
Her boat business is performing really well since its inception says Ms Waqavou. On a daily basis, three to six local women in the village use the boat to catch crabs during the day while almost five divers use the boat in the night.
From this arrangement, she gets one crab each from the women and the divers only pay $25 each for using the boat.
All the remaining catch by the women and the divers are of their own and they can sell it to earn cash.
There is one person who is in charge of operating the boat and Ms Waqavou pays him $15 per day.
Revenue for the businesses
After selling the crabs that she gets from the women, she earns almost $150 in a day. Hence, her weekly income are more than $500 on an average week after deducting the cost of fuel and payment of the person operating the boat.
Performance of the canteen in terms of
profit making is $100 per week at the moment because there is another big shop just outside the village as competition.
On the same note, the cattle farming is rearing about five cows and 10 goats but has not culminated into profits yet because she has just ventured into the business.
She hopes to receive a good amount of income once the livestock are in a state of maturity.
The profit from these businesses have earned Ms Waqavou quite a number of assets.
These include the purchase of a second hand carrier van, furniture, electrical appliances, household items, amenities, cattle, a boat and the consolidated worth of the extensions to her home.
“At the moment there is around $1400 in my savings account and this after withdrawing a $1000 to buy the van,” she adds.
Apart from this, she has been able to generate a lot of employment opportunities in her village through her businesses.
Her husband Mohammed Kasim is currently driving the van and earning money.
The canteen is looked after by her aunty which keeps her occupied and earns her a little extra cash.
Further, her dad caters to the management of Ms Waqavou’s cattle farm for which he receives wages.
Other than this, local women who once had no chance to generate income now have a source of livelihood in the form of catching and selling crabs.
Likewise the divers have means to go fishing and are able to get more money for their families by only paying $25 to Ms Waqavou as fare.
Social responsibility
She wishes to employ more people in time. She feels a sense of social responsibility for her people because they have all struggled and witnessed tough times.
She has created employment opportunities and generated ways for them to earn money.
There are also times when she has lent money as loan to the villagers in times of need.
The canteen in the village has made it more convenient for villagers by bringing their daily needs and wants closer to home eliminating the need to travel outside the village for small household requirements.
South Pacific Business Development (SPBD)
The progress of her business through SPBD has also encouraged other women to start up their own businesses and generate income.
One example is her aunt who obtained a loan from SPBD and is now selling cigarettes and grog.
Over the years, Ms Waqavou has developed great leadership skills through her business as she does not face any human resource issues or difficulties in managing the people who work for her.
All her life, she has aspired to win in whatever she undertakes and her spirit, commitment and determination together with the years of hard work she put into the business calls for her to be hailed Businesswomen of the Year at the SPBD’s annual awards. She believes SPBD has helped her family move forward in life and she plans to remain with SPBD as her next goal is to continue her studies.
The SPBD annual awards will be held at Churchill Park, Lautoka on the evening of Thursday, February 28 from 6pm to 11pm.