Barara Co-operative Farmers Stand Resiliently
Barara Farmers Cooperative stood resilient at the face of the pandemic to better the lives of its farmers. Initiated post the first lock down, this co-operative was formed when a group of farmers got together to discuss how to obtain farming assistance through Government funds.
Chairperson Ron Govind said they were then advised to form a co-operative.
“The farmers’ proposal for registration was approved in March, 2020,” he said.
“Our main objective is to uplift the livelihood of our members.”
He said the co-operative had 10 member farmers from Sigatoka, Nadroga Navosa area who indulged in vegetable farming. “Being in a co-operative does not only help one person, but all our members. “Right now, the cooperative is focusing on assisting the farmers in the timely preparation of their lands through acquiring our own tractor.” Mr Govind said as a co-operative, owning a tractor and other capital machinery would make toiling the land easier for all members.
“The other objectives are to raise funds to meet capital developments for the cooperative and to establish a market outlet to meet local and tourist market demands.”
The lockdowns
He said the first wave of COVID-19 in Fiji had affected the then newly formed cooperative.
“The first lockdown had prevented most of the fundraising activities planned and also our request for seeds and necessary infrastructure to the Ministry of Agriculture was affected.”
Regardless, he said the cooperative had showed resilience at the face of the pandemic and continued supplying to markets through negotiations with relevant stakeholders and authorities.
“Most of our farmers have their own customers so during this lockdown, negotiations for supplying these farm produce are done between the farmers and authorities.”
He said this had continued with the second lockdown, and farmers’ livelihoods were still viable.
Hope
“The co-operative was also given our first contract by Crystal Prawn and Fish farm, to construct a hatchery.
“So we provide the farm with labour for construction work and our members get paid in return. “The surplus revenue goes to our fund allocated for capital development which in turn will assist all member farmers.” Mr Govind said there were plans for the co-operation to bypass the supply chain to become the supplier, and retailer both. “When we supply to these middlemen, they sell our produce at a much higher rate, so the co-operative is planning on marketing our own produce so our members earn maximum profit.
“We have also submitted project proposals to Ministry of Agriculture for production nursery and sought Ministry’s help to expand market outlet to generate income for the group.
“Once those are met, the cooperative will have the opportunity to help members during period such as this COVID-19 pandemic.”
Resilience
Despite the odds, Mr Govind said the co-operative had enabled farmers to be afloat.
“With co-operatives, everybody benefits.
“Profits earned collectively through project such as construction of the hatchery are shared equally amongst the members.”
He said formation of the co-operative had given access to equal opportunities to the farmers and enabled a stronger and collective voice to represent Barara’s farming community.