Nisha’s leap of faith
RAIMUN Nisha took a leap faith when she decided to quit being a “stay at home” mum and delve into the business world.
To make that happen she sold her car and set up a small poultry farm in Tokotoko, a few kilometres outside the riverside township of Navua.
Nisha started off in 2007 with just 40 hatched chickens. To date she has 4500 birds and two full-time employees.
Through sacrifice and perseverance, she was also able to pay for all her four children’s tuition fees at university.
And in recognition of her efforts and immense contribution to agriculture, the 51-year-old was recently awarded the Women Poultry Farmer of the Year at the inaugural National Women in Agriculture Awards held in Nadi.
“Once I was just staying at home and I did not have much to do,” she said.
“And that time Pacific Feeds Ltd started producing layer chickens, so I thought of doing something.
“I slowly built my farm, and now I have 4500 chickens.
From her brood, she gets 65 trays of eggs per day and earns between $400 and $500 a week.
Eggs are sold to market vendors, bakeries and restaurants in Navua and Suva.
“From the money earned I sent my children to school at the Fiji National University and University of the South Pacific.
“I have four children and now they are all working and married.”
Nisha said becoming a poultry farmer was not easy but she worked hard to get to where she is.
“My goal is to increase my livestock and improve production on my farm.
“My husband is a hairdresser. He operates his own shop in Suva, while I manage the farm.”
Apart from being a poultry farmer, Nisha also owns a four and a half acre vegetable farm. She sells her produce to buyers in Navua and Suva.
“Staying home and just doing housework can be boring, so working on the farm provides me with exercise and is good for my health.
“For five years, there were no labourers. I would do the work on my own but just recently I hired workers from Navua.”
For the future, Nisha hopes to extend her vegetable and livestock farms. She believes hardwork pays off.
“We need to work to earn a living and support our family members.
“I just started with forty chickens and now I’m farming on a large scale.
“Nothing is hard, we only have to sacrifice our time if we want to reap rewards.”
From the money earned I sent my children to school at the Fiji National University and University of the South Pacific
– Raimun Nisha –