Engineer Converts Knowledge into Farming

Rinesh Sharma had studied to become an engineer at SVCET College of Engineering and Technology in India, but decided to switch to farming using his engineering knowledge.

The 27-year-old has never regretted that decision and has been a hydroponic farmer the past two years. He is the founder and chief executive of Smart Farms Fiji in Lautoka, where he leads the development of new technologies in redefining interactions with food in order to improve food security and nutrition in Fiji.

He is focused on developing sustainable urban systems that prioritise small scale interventions to create large-scale impact.

“I grew up watching my elders attending to their farms. I knew at an early age that soil is brown gold. While studying in India, I realised the issues in agriculture and food security issues in Fiji. Since 2017, I began to work on a tangible solution for this,” Mr Sharma said.

“Being a farmer is one of the most difficult shoes to get into. It takes immense strategic planning and execution to be able to grow crops in a geographical area prone to unprecedented natural calamities.

“There isn’t any disadvantage to farming if you are passionate about

Rinesh Sharma, founder and chief executive of Smart Farms Fiji in Lautoka.

it. You fail, you learn you grow. That’s when passion drives you. “This is something I would be doing until my last breath.”

The former Natabua High School student hopes to share his initiatives with the Pacific.

“I hope to be part of a nation of farmers and work as a team to achieve food security in Fiji. Every Fijian

deserves healthy and nutritious meals,” he said.

“To me, farming is not a career, it is a blessing.

“Yes, my farms are automated but I immensely enjoy the farming way more. My farm is my office, it is like heaven. I am automatically compelled to be at my farm every single day.

“The matter of the fact is that our activities have greatly ruined planet earth. I feel the earth has a soul and probably not through climate change, but through COVID-19 to allow humans the time to re-think and take a cautious approach with life,” he said.

“People have lost jobs around the world and this has immensely affected our economy. The truth of the matter is that in life, there is so much that we seek, but there’s very little we actually need.

“This is an opportunity for every Fijian to realise the importance of securing basic needs. It is time for people to take leadership and ownership

of investing in agriculture (commercial or personal) for sustainable livelihood.

“Every day, we are working on improving our technology to modernise farming, reduce carbon footprints and bring transparency to the food industry in Fiji.

“Now, I am mentoring and guiding over 20 hydroponic farmers who are practicing hydroponic farming. Such is sustainable, nutritional and environmentally friendly.

“Farmers create employment, promote good health and well-being in their communities.”