Young couple transforms overgrown land into thriving agri-business in Labasa

A young couple in Tabia, Labasa has transformed a once-overgrown plot of land into a thriving agri-business that now includes rice farming, poultry production, and goat rearing.

While speaking to fijivillage News, owner Ranjani Swastika Devi says they began their journey with a small piece of borrowed land, which has now grown into a diversified enterprise.

She says the farm has over 1,800 poultry birds and produces 42 to 50 trays of eggs daily, which are graded by size and earn them more than $500.

She says they also sell chicken manure, which brings in additional income.

Devi adds that they make their chicken feed and are currently supplying it to a local farmer.

She says one of the challenges they face is the lack of a reliable water supply and is hoping for the establishment of a borehole to support their farm operations.

The total cost of the project was approximately $75,503.30, with the couple contributing $39,276.82 through a bank loan and personal funds, alongside the $31,726.49 grant from the Northern Development Programme.