A Ba woman who turned personal hardship into a thriving farming venture is now inspiring others with her story of resilience, determination and hope.
Subashni Shobana Lal, the founder of Freedom Farms Fiji in Vatusui, Ba, says her journey in agriculture was born out of one of the most difficult periods of her life, but today it has become the foundation for a better future for her and her daughter.
Speaking to fijivillage News during the 2026 National Women in Agriculture Symposium in Suva, Lal shared how farming helped her rebuild her life after her marriage ended.
Originally from Labasa, Lal grew up on a farm before moving to Suva for work.
However, after her husband left, she returned to the land and used the farming knowledge she had gained from her parents to start again.
Lal says today, her mixed farming business produces a wide range of crops and livestock, including ducks, chickens and sheep, while her main focus is mushroom production, a venture that has brought her considerable success.
Lal says her farm is also exploring innovative and sustainable practices.
She says she produces black soldier fly larvae on the farm, which is used as a protein source to feed her chickens, helping reduce feed costs.
She also grows juncao, a drought resistance hybrid Chinese grass, and incubates her own chicks.
She says the entire operation runs on solar power, making the farm largely self-sufficient.
However, Lal says the journey has not been easy.
After her separation, Lal says she faced emotional and financial struggles while trying to rebuild her life.
Insert: Lal - For my daughter March 09
Determined to create a secure future for her child, Lal invested her savings and even used her Fiji National Provident Fund funds to start the farm.
Her daughter, now 15, has been living with her since 2020 after previously staying with her grandparents in Labasa while Lal worked in Suva.
Lal says her greatest motivation has always been ensuring her daughter has stability and a place to call home.
Today, Lal says life has become more stable.
She has remarried and her husband now supports her farming work while also helping care for her daughter.
To support the expansion of her farming business, Lal has also returned to her previous role at the Fiji National University, providing an additional source of income while she continues to invest in the farm.
She credits much of her resilience to her mother, a hardworking farmer in Labasa who continues to cut sugarcane and grow vegetables even in her 60s.
Through Freedom Farms Fiji, Lal hopes not only to expand her mushroom business but also to set an example for her daughter and other women.
She says her journey proves that even after life’s toughest setbacks, it is possible to rebuild and grow stronger.
