For many families, the festive season is a time of celebration, but for 54-year-old Sireli Satavu, it marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his agricultural journey. A lifelong farmer originally from Nahigatoka and currently residing in Lawai, Mr. Satavu is preparing to invest in farming machinery for the first time as he embarks on a new venture into dalo farming.
Having grown up learning about agriculture alongside his father, Mr. Satavu has spent much of his life cultivating various seasonal crops, including cassava, cabbage, capsicum, tomatoes, long beans, and French beans. He fondly remembers a time when he had a successful harvest of 100 lines of cassava, which he sold at $50 per bag—a price that has impressively increased to $120 today.
Though there is ample land available, many members of his community choose alternative employment in the town rather than farming. Mr. Satavu has relied on his resourcefulness to support his family of five, engaging in both home-based sales and market transactions to sustain his small-scale operations.
Recently, he made a significant advancement by visiting an agricultural supplier to get quotations for two new machines—one priced around $666 and another exceeding $1,700. These tools aim to facilitate his transition to dalo farming, a crop that is less common in his region.
Mr. Satavu articulated his aspirations to enhance his farming practices, stating, “I want to do proper farming now. I see people leaving their jobs and doing full-time farming. That’s what I want too.” For him, the essence of Christmas is not about gift-giving or festive parties; rather, it is about investing in a promising future and a commitment to modernizing his agricultural practices. “God provided for you to come here,” he mentioned, reflecting his faith in the journey ahead.
As the festive season progresses, Mr. Satavu’s dedication and enthusiasm portray a story of resilience and hope in the heart of Nahigatoka, inspiring those around him to consider the potential and rewards of full-time farming. His journey not only emphasizes the importance of agriculture in sustaining families but also highlights the possibilities that arise from new investments in the farming sector.