‘Women are strong’

WOMEN are strong.

They have the innate ability to make the best out of every situation, no matter how hard it may be or if the odds are stacked heavily against them.

Case in point, the story of Sarah Whippy.

After she lost her husband a few years ago, without even thinking twice, she took on the challenge of looking after their 45-acre copra farm in Kasavu, Cakaudrove.

The mother of four described copra farming as “tough” but in the same breath said she has never regretted learning the trade of working among the tall, swaying coconut trees.

And to help her cope, Ms Whippy said she shared the farming responsibilities with her brothers-in-law with each having allotted time on the farm.

“We share the months in the year so when it’s their month to work the farm, they do all the jobs from collecting the nuts to husking, drying and selling to the mill in Savusavu,” she said.

“When it’s my turn, I do everything alone. I collect all the nuts and it can be 500 in a day, pile it in a certain area before I start husking.

“Then when that’s done I dry the coconut flesh on my own and sell to the mill. But if there’s a payment I need quickly then I hire workers to help me with husking and remove the flesh from the nut.”

While she, from time-to-time, employs people to assist with collection and husking, Ms Whippy said the drying of flesh from 500 nuts in a day was work she does alone.

“It’s not easy and that is why I start my day early in the copra farm to avoid the hot sun.

“Every day at 6am, I make my way to the farm and start collecting all the nuts then I do the rest of the work before returning home in the evening.

“It’s good that my children are all adults and are able to look after themselves. This makes my work easy because I don’t need to prepare any food for them”

She said despite the huge effort needed, copra farming “is good money”.

“Now with the cost of copra at $1350 a tonne, it’s much better and this rewards our hard work and I believe every farmer deserves this.

“So every week, I try to supply more than half a tonne sometimes one tonne of dried copra to the mill so I can get good income and support my family.

“Being a widow and single parent is also not easy as I still have my children to support even though they are all adults. There are days they call for help so that’s where I come in as their mum.”

When her brothers-in-law are on the farm, Ms Whippy operates a roadside booth selling food to commuters travelling between Cakaudrove and Savusavu.

“I don’t sit at home idle. I have my plans every week where I try to earn an income. So when it’s not my turn to be in the copra farm, I sell food parcels and pastries.

“It’s good money too as it helps me get through the week. But I always make sure to save income from the copra farm because that money that will sustain me and my children for a longer period.

“Income from the food parcels we use weekly so it has been all good.”