COVID pandemic a blessing in disguise: Young farmer
COVID-19 made me return to farming, says former hotel worker, Navneet Nand, 25, a recipient of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Back-to-Rural-Agriculture initiative.
The former Commis Chef who resides with his parents and only brother in Korovuto, Nadi says receiving the assistance helped his transition smoothly from working for someone else to becoming selfemployed.
“I was working for seven years on Denarau,” he said.
He was introduced to Rural Agriculture assistance scheme.
“I planted the seeds that were given to me – cabbage, radish, and coriander,” Mr Nand said.
“I was also given greenhouse materials which has helped me to plant all the year round.
“It will also protect my vegetables from being washed away from
the rains.”
The initiative helped him purchase much-needed parts for his tractor, which again would go back to assist with his farm work.
The second of two brothers, Mr Nand is the only sibling and family member that tends to their family farm on a full-time basis.
“It’s not really that hard,” he said.
“It depends on one’s mentality. “The only challenge we face here is the weather, both the drought and the rain, because I do not have any irrigation system set up.”
Their vegetables are sold on the roadside, a short distance away from their home either weekly or sometimes twice weekly.
“In a season, depending on whether we have five or six crops or three crops; in a month we can make about $2000,” Mr Nand said.
When he and his family need to
sell their vegetables in bulk, the roadside activity becomes a whole family affair.
When there is not much to sell, they seek the help of another farmer to sell for them.
They also distribute to their local community when there is surpl;us supply.
Mr Nand enjoys the benefits of being his own boss.
He urged young farmers who had land to utilise it.
The Back to Rural Agriculture program was launched by Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment, Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy in June and closed last week (15.12.21).
The aim of the programme was to support Fijians who had lost their jobs due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and had returned to rural areas to focus on agriculture.