Despite working full-time as a nurse at the Seaqaqa Health Centre, Azfeen Shaukat Ali has successfully managed a growing sugarcane farm in Seaqaqa.
Ali, who is in his mid-thirties and is originally from Seaqaqa, has been recognised as the Best Young Farmer for Vanua Levu under the Prime Minister’s Sugar Cane Farmers Mill Award for the Labasa Mill area.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Ali reveals that he felt very proud when he was informed that he would be receiving the award.
Ali says although the award was presented to him as an individual, it reflects the contribution of many people involved in his farming journey, and he acknowledged the support of his wife, children and other family members.
He also thanked the labourers who have been helping him cultivate sugarcane in Seaqaqa.
Speaking on balancing work in the medical field and farming, Ali says he mainly shares his farming journey to encourage other members of his family and community to work hard and make use of available land.
He says there are only a few people in his age group involved in farming, with younger generations pursuing white-collar jobs and migrating to other countries.
INSERT: Ali on making use of land 21st May
When asked about challenges, Ali says the main difficulty he faces is time because most of the day is spent working as a nurse before returning home after 4.30pm to continue with farming activities.
He says farming is also a type of business with both profits and losses, and labour shortages are also a major challenge.
HINDI INSERT: Ali on labour shortage 21st May
He says if the problem persists, labourers may need to be brought in from other countries, similar to how foreign workers are being brought in to work in the construction sector.
Ali says he currently has a 31-acre lease, and almost 25 acres are under sugarcane cultivation.
He says before this, he used to produce between 630 and 730 tonnes of sugarcane annually, however, before last year, when his lease was renewed and subdivided, he cultivated another 14 acres with assistance from a grant from the Ministry of Sugar Industry.
Ali says he planted more sugarcane on the additional land, and last year he was able to cultivate around 1,000 tonnes.
However, he says due to labour shortages and rain, which started very early in November before the mill closed, he was unable to harvest all his cane but managed to harvest at least two-thirds of it.
Ali says sugarcane remains the largest crop among those he cultivates, and he also plants pineapple and cassava.
He also has livestock, mainly cattle, while for home consumption he keeps poultry, ducks and a few goats.
Despite the demands of both professions, Ali says he remains committed to healthcare and farming.
