Balbir Singh's story is growing up without shoes to building a thriving farming business from scratch.
The Director and Founder of Futuristic Farms in Tavua Balbir Singh has defied the odds to become Fiji’s Youth Entrepreneur of the Year.
Singh has recently been awarded the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year at the FDB’s National Small and Medium Enterprises Awards.
Singh expresses his deep gratitude to the Fijian government, the Fiji Development Bank, his clients, TikTok followers, and everyone who believes in him.
In an interview with fijivillage News, Balbir Singh says many may focus solely on the glamorous aspects of success but he is determined to share the reality of his journey.
Singh says he is dyslexic and struggled with nearly failing every exam from grades 1 to 8 and grew up in poverty, and there were times when his classmates distanced themselves from him because he lacked modern appeal.
He adds his only appeal was his hard work, which earned him a gold medal for academic achievements from the University of the South Pacific.
Singh founded Futuristic Farms after completing an Honors Master’s in Tourism Management, struggling to find the right job despite his qualifications.
Despite feeling disheartened he pursued his dream of becoming a farmer and started his business with just $1,000 where the first year was tough, as he lost $45,000 worth of sandalwood seedlings, nearly driving him to bankruptcy.
Singh says through relentless hard work, his firm is now one of the leading suppliers of various seedlings and he provides jobs for young people and support local communities.
Singh’s message to every young person in Fiji is clear which is to focus on your dreams.
