USP GRADUATE INVESTS IN FARMING, THANKS NDP ASSSITANCE

Despite being a University of the South Pacific (USP) Early Childhood Education certificate graduate, Suman Devi was not been able to find employment.

However, the 39-year-old has not lost hope and is glad she invested in something better.

Ms Devi says she found happiness in helping her husband at their sugarcane farm, including looking after their livestock farm and kava business in Waiqele, Labasa. Yesterday, Ms Devi and her husband had their prayers answered after receiving 50 coils of fence, 10 coils of barbed wire and two boer does from the Minister for Commerce, Trade and Tourism under Northern Development Programme (NDP). “When my husband bought a 44acre farm for sugarcane farming, five acres remained barren and so I started doing goat and sheep farming,” Mrs Devi said.

“We couldn’t afford to buy fencing materials to keep the animals safe and then last year we applied for a NDP grant.”

Husband, Arunesh Chand believes in diversification and that is why the couple joined hands to invest in Waiqele, away from Labasa Town. They thanked the Government for having a special programme for farmers in the Northern Division. “There is a beautiful reward in farming and I have experienced it.” Meanwhile, Mr Koya said he took his hats off to them for venturing in the diversification of business.

“This is how most of our small micro-entrepreneurs have survived,” Mr Koya said. “Government is doing their part as we want a better economic future for everybody.”

He said every little bit of help, helps. >SHRATIKA NAIDU