Living up to the challenge
THE different types of work that women from diverse backgrounds do to sustain their families is something to be admired.
Whether it’s doing administrative work or being an educator or toiling under the unrelenting sun and working the farm, women can draw strength form within to meet the daily tasks set before them.
And for those who are mothers, just getting through the day is a challenge within itself.
Take the case of Divere Mucunabitu. Her husband is Michael Evans, the farmer who scooped the President’s Award at the Coconut and Rice Farmers Awards for supplying the highest tonnes of dry copra this year.
Apart from supporting her husband on their copra farm, her day begins at 4am, preparing breakfast and lunch for the family, especially the schoolchildren.
She described her duties on the farm as “challenging”.
“It’s not easy because it requires your time, the copra farming business can take up all your time and you will spend it all in the farm,” she said.
“That is why we need to learn the skills of becoming a good copra farmer and being efficient, especially when we have our own families to look after.
“I need to cook food three times a day, wash the clothes, clean the house and make sure that all at home is good before
I make my way to the farm.”
Ms Mucunabitu, who lives in Kasavu, Cakaudrove, with her family, moved to the farm in 2009 from Suva.
She said it was a challenge. Her husband was involved with the High Performance Unit of the Fiji Rugby Union and was a candidate on the 15s rugby trial list before they returned home to Cakaudrove.
“It wasn’t easy for me in the beginning as I had to learn the trade and at the same time moving between house chores and the farm.
“But over the years I got better with the help of my husband and other family members and so every week, we aim to supply one tonne of dried copra to the mill in Savusavu.
“Our hard work has certainly paid off with the award he received.”
Her duty as a housewife starts as early as 4am every day preparing breakfast and cooking lunch for her children and cleaning the house.
“When my children leave for school, I attend to my laundry duties if there is any or I clean my kitchen then prepare water and some snacks for the farm.
“About 9am, after completing my house chores, I then head to the farm sometimes with my husband, but most times he takes the lead.
“We will collect coconuts, husk it and dry it. If we need help from workers then we will pay workers otherwise it’s a family duty as our children are also involved.”