Young people are being urged to return to the villages and take up commercial farming, with this year’s Best Farmer in the Crop Category, Devendra Singh, saying farming can provide a good source of income while making productive use of Fiji’s land.
Singh says farming can provide a good source of income while making productive use of Fiji’s land.
He currently farms on two leased properties, with more than 3,000 yaqona plants. His goal is to increase that number to more than 10,000 in the coming years.
Singh says he earns between $300,000 and $400,000 per year.
He says farming is not difficult if people work hard and manage their farms properly, adding that it can provide a good income.
Singh says his farming journey has not always been easy sharing his farm was badly affected by yaqona dieback disease a few years ago, but he replanted and continued farming.
He says he has also encouraged young people who come to him for grog to consider growing yaqona themselves.
Singh says instead of only drinking grog, young people should start farming yaqona, adding that many of them have now taken up farming.
Singh is also calling on Government officials and agricultural extension officers to spend more time in villages, meet with Turaga-ni-Koro and mataqali, and discuss how land can be better used for farming.
He says even dry and hilly land can be productive, with opportunities to grow vegetables, raise livestock and plant crops such as watermelons.
Singh says farmers continue to face challenges, including poor road access and yaqona theft.
He says it took him up to four hours a day to reach his farm by horse because of poor road conditions.
Singh is also calling on the media to highlight the practice of buying green yaqona and is urging the Government to stop people from selling green yaqona.
He is encouraging young people to work hard, make productive use of available land and view commercial farming as a reliable source of income.
