Mohammed Saiyum from Nabekavu, Labasa, can now significantly increase crop production on his farm after purchasing a tractor, which will not only boost efficiency but also reduce the time and cost of land preparation.
He says the tractor is valued at $61,500, and he contributed $20,500 towards it through a loan, while the remaining amount was covered by a grant from the Government under the Integrated Human Resource Development Programme.
The 41-year-old says that when he bought the land in 2023, it was overgrown with weed, and he spent around $30,000 to hire tractors and bulldozers to get it ready for planting.
Saiyum says he works on the farm by himself, and it is his determination and hard work that have brought him this far.
He plants sugarcane alongside watermelons, as well as cassava and cucumbers.
He says the money he earns from selling watermelons is used for labour costs and farm preparation, and he is able to make some profit from it as well.
He says he plans to plant more cassava, yam, and watermelons, and he is trying to collaborate with iTaukei farmers to ensure consistent supply of crops.
He is urging farmers to practise inter-cropping, so they can grow other crops to help cover their production costs through sales.
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