2023 Floriculture Farmer of the Year, Yogeeta Mala Singh, has never regretted venturing into the floricultural business as she now runs her own floriculture business known as Mala’s Nursery straight from her home in Wairuku, Rakiraki.
The 47-year-old started her flower garden 18 years ago.
She says she transformed her garden into a business when she realised that she could earn a living through selling flowers.
Singh says she used social media to advertise her business, and it was a successful marketing tool as she now earns about $1,000/week.
She has also maximised a quarter acre of land to grow flowers and raise around 300 chickens and ducks and has also started another successful business of making sweets, chutneys, pickles and customised food orders.
Singh says after working in the nursery she feeds the ducks and chicken and wants to make the most of her time so she also started making sweets, tamarine chutney and pickles.
She secured a market for her flowers, sweets, pickles and chutneys at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, and she received over $1,000 worth of orders from the hotel alone during Diwali last year.
Singh also acknowledged the Ministry for Agriculture for appreciating her hard work and dedication and is grateful for the support from family, friends, and customers.
Agriculture Technical Officer Veniana Nabitu says a group of five women have been progressing in this industry and hopes that more women will feel encouraged to take up floriculture.
Nabitu says Singh’s efforts did not go unnoticed, as she was awarded the Floriculture Farmer of the Year award by the Ministry of Agriculture during the 2023 National Agriculture Show held in Suva.
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