The story and determination of 35-year-old entrepreneur Epi Tabualevu is a great inspiration to anyone who wants to start a business from nothing.
Tabualevu always recounts the day he trekked over 2 kilometres by foot from Suva bustand to Laucala Beach, hoping that he would secure a market for the budding business venture he had just begun to pursue.
Undeterred by the gruelling conditions, Tabuavula pressed onwards.
Today, the 35-year-old’s resilient spirit has paid off as he is the proud owner of ‘Epi Pearl Guava Farm’ in Tailevu.
Tabualevu says it was dream of his to be a source of help for others.
He says he prayed to God that he would bless him with a business and use him to bless others.
Tabualevu's business was further boosted after he applied for a Youth Grant operated under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The recipient received $4,000 worth of materials to help boost his Guava farm located in Nakalawaca village, Tailevu, where his brothers help him on the farm.
Tabualevu now supplies about 200-300kg of pearl guavas to major supermarkets per week, such as Extra Supermarket, New World IGA and Morris Hedstrom.
He approximately rakes in $6,000 per month from the sale of guavas, and he is looking at expanding his business to include dragon fruit cultivation and also entering the export market.
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