Baulevu dairy farmer Tasweed Ali says farming is hard work, but it brings fulfilment, and he is urging people not to be ashamed of wanting to become a farmer as people can find joy in their unique talent.
Ali says while his friends leaned towards white and blue-collar jobs, his passion for farming never wavered as he grew up watching his father milking cows and taking them to graze.
He says as a child, he used to take cows to graze, and after his father passed away, he stepped up to manage the farm with the assistance of his mother and wife.
Under Ali’s leadership, his farm stock grew from 20 to 60 cows.
Ali says he milked an average of 230 litres of milk every day, which is supplied to Fiji Dairy Limited.
The dairy farmer says one of the biggest challenges they face include dog attacks and changing weather patterns, as they have lost ten cows during the 2010 floods.
He adds that they are working with the Ministry of Agriculture to address these problems.
His message to dairy farmers is to always prioritise hygiene and animal welfare, echoing the care he has for his cows.
