Successful Kadavu farmer
HE is a farmer who never knew school life and struggled with literacy. Today he is the proud owner of two separate companies earning about $40,000 monthly. He says he couldn’t have done it without the help of the Almighty.
Inosi Matea, 39, of Kadavu said he couldn’t read and write and despite never attending school in his life, it was his eagerness and belief in the Almighty that got him to where he is today.
Mr Matea is a successful businessman operating a kava and money-lending business in Kadavu Island for the past three years.
Originally from Natumua in Tavuki, Kadavu, Mr Matea was the second youngest of nine siblings and sacrificed his childhood games to help his father on the farm and support the family. In the past 25 years he learnt about farming kava from his dad and eventually progressed to starting his own business.
After the Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, Mr Mateo saw a potential to start his business in light of the fact kava became costly. The idea was brilliant and as the months turned over so to the profits.
“I was never educated and I am proud to say that, and today I have a kava business and money lending that is successfully running on the Island of Kadavu today.”
“Every time I enter an office in Suva I will look for an iTaukei staff so they can help me out in filling my forms because I was illiterate. With all that help I managed to register my two companies and now employ eight people from my village,” said Mr Matea.
“When growing up my dad had asked me to be with him in the village and help him out in farming while my other siblings attended school.
“So every time he goes to the farm I’d accompany him and he told me that one day I would be in a better position only if I stuck to farming,” says Mr Matea.
“The one thing I never forgot was my father’s advice to utilise the land well and it will one day make me rich.
“When the price of yaqona increased in 2016 just after TC Winston I started to do business by supplying to Suva. Afterwards I had both companies registered with the name Inosi Investments. In a month I would earn more than $40,000 from my yaqona sales to a buyer in Suva. And I sometimes I send to relatives to sell at their homes in Suva.
“Now I have employed eight people from the village on the farm. Last year I had a team for Dritabua, Naitasiri working on my farm and in return I bought them rugby jerseys worth $6000.
“My two businesses are fully operational and I thank my siblings for always being there to support me and my wife and son who are always there with me at home helping me out in the daily running of our business. I am so blessed to have a supportive family.
“I hope to expand my business if God permits, I would like to highlight that God has given us everything and it is up to us – whether you want to achieve something is entirely up to you – the choice is yours to make,” he said.