Seruwaia Wati Kabukabu is the 2022 South Pacific Business Development Businesswoman of the Year.
The 44 year old representing the Sereawaimalua Centre in Naitasiri says she now owns a dairy farm and produces up to 60 litres of milk daily.
She says her father-in-law had a dairy farm, but he went bankrupt.
Kabukabu says she had to restart everything once again.
She says her current business was not impacted by COVID-19 as she was able to get her milk transported by the tankers, after collection from the chilling centres.
She also says one of her challenges was to set up the dairy farm by clearing up land, fencing the boundary and purchasing cattle.
Kabukabu further says she plans on having indoor feed for her cattle.
The mother of two says she is a shareholder in the Fiji Dairy Cooperative Limited.
She says she also has cash crops as well as a ginger farm.
Kabukabu further says she started a canteen in 2016 with a loan from SPBD, which closed down due to COVID-19.
She says she is originally from Maumi in Tailevu.
More than 2000 women representing over 400 centres, from all over Fiji attended the SPBD awards.
Lakena Centre won the Centre of the Year.
In the other awards, Kartika Kumar of Valelevu Sisters in Action was declared the Bet Saver, Matanakilagi of Suva won the Centre Saver of the Year, Naitaqiri Centre won the New Centre of the Year and Menani Delana won the Financial Educator of the Year.
