Wading streams for survival
SITERI Mani has been wading the streams to catch prawns since 2000 so she could put food on the table for her family.
First she starts her day with a prayer and then she continues her daily routine at her home in Vaturua Village in Nakelo, Tailevu.
She prepares breakfast for her children and husband, does a few chores and then heads to the Nausori market.
This has been customary for the 37-year-old mother of six who is also the sole bread-winner.
On a good day, she could take home $80. Other days, Mrs Mani could make $30 or nothing at all.
“I always catch my prawns one night before I come to sell at the market,” she said.
“I get a potato sack, fill it in with flour and leave it at the streams for half an hour or so before I gather what’s been caught.
“And with whatever amount of prawns I could catch, I sell.
“There are two kinds of prawns I sell — one is called the kadikadi and the other is called the moci.
“The kadikadi is sold at $10 a heap and the moci is sold at $5 a heap.
“There are different ways you could cook prawns — some prefer to cook it in coconut milk, others prefer to boil or deep fry them.
“Prawns are tasty, delicious and they’re good for your health as well.”
She says she enjoys what she does because the money she earns helps her family to survive.
“It also helps me to buy a few things that we need at home like kerosene, mosquito coils and also buy my children’s stationery,” she said.
“If I have enough money then I would buy some kitchen items — maybe a few new spoons, knives or pots.”
Mrs Mani vends at the Nausori market from Mondays to Saturdays and is usually at the market at 10am or 11am.