Retired Principal Sells Pineapple, Promotes Good Health
‘Teachers should be grateful for their salary and start planning for their retirement like what I did during my 33 years of service.’
If you really want to enjoy your retirement then invest into what promotes good health and return, says Erami Biaunisala.
Although he is 74, the retired principal of Nabala Secondary School travels in his van selling pineapples along Seaqaqa Highway and Labasa Town.
The father of three children recalled that while he was a teacher he planted yaqona back in his village at Navesidrua, Seaqaqa in the Macuata Province.
From his income together with the support from his wife who was also a teacher, they bought one house for their son who also became a teacher.
“In 2013 we bought a three-tonne vehicle to operate as a Rural Service Licence to support transporting children in our area to school,” Mr Biaunisala said.
“My second son who worked for
Fiji Pine Limited resigned from his work to assist us in our farming business.”
Then he stopped yaqona farming and instead bought green kava for his customers before switching to pineapple farming.
In 2020, he planted 10,000 pineapples and expanded it into an income generating project.
“Now we are able to enjoy eating pineapple at home, sell it at the roadside and market to earn money in order to pay our bills,” the eldest of six siblings said.
“I have worked hard in setting up a business and now enjoying my retirement.”
Future plans
His future plan is to invest into the fishing business.
“Teachers should be grateful for their salary and start planning for their retirement like what I did during my 33 years of service,” he said.
“Today, I am helping my village and family by providing jobs to the unemployed and services that people need in my area.”
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