Only two years after setting up his farm, Namosi farmer, Alifereti Roko is already reaping the benefits.
A retired civil servant at the Auditor Generals's office, Roko after turning 55 years in 2009 decided to spend $8,000 on his farm and took a lease from the land owned by his Amataqali”, in Mau village.
He started off being a dalo farmer, however obstacles in the market forced him into commercial ginger farming.
Not only is he contributing to the export market, Roko is assisting the villagers in Mau by providing casual employment to 3 boys on his farm, helping the rugby team for carrier expenses in order for them to play in Navua and provides assistance to the women in the village.
Roko who is now working as an auditor with the Nasinu Town Council, and this year has harvested 4 tonnes of ginger and has plans to increase that next year.
He has urged farmers in Namosi to plant more ginger as exporters already have plans to diversify into creating ginger powder, apart from the exports.
Apart from ginger farming, he is also planting dalo, cassava, capsicum, long-bean and already has plans to start a piggery from the 20 pigs that he has.
To add icing on the cake, the 57 year old Roko will be financially supporting his daughter who will be leaving for further studies to Australia next month.
Story by: Selina Navuso
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Retired civil servant reaps benefits
