Benefits of farming and selling
VENTURING into the vending business was a decision Usenia Seru did not regret. She entered the business three years ago after operating a school canteen for more than 10 years.
Ms Seru said she started to plant vegetables and decided to come and sell it at the market.
She said her husband was a carpenter and they had a stall along the Suva Municipal Market corridor.
Originally from Waivaka Village in Namosi the mother of four says despite the downturn in business caused by COVID-19 and cyclones Harold and Yasa they didn’t give up and continue to farm and sell their produce.
She said the prices of produce and other goods were sold at a much cheaper cost in the past.
“But now the prices have continued to increase over the years, we have no choice but to also increase the price at which we sell our produce,” Ms Seru said.
Despite many challenges, she said there were benefits in farming.
“Most of our produce is from my husband’s village in Ra planted by my youngest sister and her husband,” Ms Seru said.
She adds that whatever they harvest they sell at their stall and the money they get is used on stationery and other family expenses. “We rely on our produce and ever since our children were in school we have been buying their school stationery and their uniforms this way.” Ms Seru sells five days a week from Mondays to Fridays from 6am to 5pm. She said her busiest days were Thursdays and Fridays where she could serve 30 to 50 people. Looking back she said they were really affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but they didn’t give up and continued to sell their produce.
“As we welcome another year, I urge everyone to lessen their alcohol and kava intake and till the land Ms Seru believes money is in the land.
“You need to work hard in order to get something out of it”.