Yaqona pounding machines worth over $17k donated to Naitasiri farmers

In a bid to to eradicate poverty and reduce hardship through community-based farming, farmers in the villages of Naivucini, Naitauvoli, and Nuku in Naitasiri received Yaqona Pounding Machines worth $17,400, under the Commercial Farming and Agri-Business initiative.

Government says each village had contributed one-third of the cost, amounting to $1,933.35, while government covered the remaining amount of $3,866.65 for each pounding machine.

Government says this innovative approach was initiated by the leaders of the three villages in 2019, where they adopted the rural millionaire concept, a strategy often utilised in rural and maritime communities.

As a result of the concept, last year they celebrated the production achievement of 64 tonnes of green produce, which came to a value of $960,000, and 21 tonnes of dalo valued at $63,000.

A five-tonne truck was also bought to assist them in transporting their produce to the market after opening their investment account for the education of their children.