Land, sea best option for unemployed tourism worker
Toiling the land is the best option to survive and overcome the uncertain climate created by the COVID-19 pandemic, says Mesake Narogo.
The 42-year-old, is an employee of Pacific Destinations for four years, but was temporarily laid off because of the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry.
Pacific Destinations provides inbound travel management service to international visitors across
New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and other Pacific Islands.
Mr Narogo, from Korovuto, Nadi, has turned to his village land for commercial and subsistence farming.
The sea is also his other best option to provide sustenance for his wife and three children.
When we visited his farm yesterday, Mr Narogo and his family were working on erecting a fence to protect their farm from animals.
Mr Narogo is calling on all Fijians to use the land and not to wait for assistance.
His wife, a casual staff at Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau, has also been affected as the resort is undergoing a major renovation.
“Let’s not lose hope by hearing words from here and there. If you don’t have any piece of land, join your friends or come and join me to plant your cassava on our land,” he said.
“Let’s fight together during this hard time. Being without a job will not stop me from providing for my family. It hasn’t been easy as we are used to the office work, however, the reality is that we need to provide for our family.”
Mr Narogo has a daily timetable, and it includes his two sons helping him with fishing and farming.
“It is important to return to our land, which has been idle for some time, and it’s time to plant our food,” he said.
Mr Narogo has also planted eggplant and pumpkin which are easy to sow.
He acknowledged the assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture for providing him with the seedlings to start his farm.