Farmer, Vendor Prepares His Children for School
While most of Fiji are in the festive mood, not to mention the political hype, a farmer and father of six, is making early preparations for the new school year.
Maika Koroitamana was one of the handful of farmers from Naqia, Wainibuka, who departed for Lautoka on Wednesday night to sell his produce in Lautoka the next day.
This is in time to catch the Christmas shopping rush.
“We farmers, especially the ones that are parents, whenever there is a school break or during Christmas, we come and find ways to generate income to cater for the cost of our children’s preparation for the next school year,” the 59-yearold said.
“We come and sell here and the money we get, we buy school stationery and other things needed for our family and other things that we iTaukei need such as preparation for functions.
“We make sure that what we earn is able to cater for that and is used properly.”
He said all the dalo was usually planted around the end of February or in March and harvested in December.
His family farm in the village is about six acres.
The dalo he sells ranges from $15 to 30 and sometimes they can rake in as much as $3000 on a good day.
Other produce on sale are watermelons, bananas, cassava, and plantains.
“To all those in the village, I just want to say that hard work is rewarding and we can earn enough for ourselves and our children and other plans for our household,” he said.
“I advise you to use your time wisely and use your land wisely.
“We iTaukeis have no excuse because we have land, we just need to work hard and make a living for our families.”