56-year-old farmer Katarina Senabu Baleisuva has won two major awards at the National Women in Agriculture Awards Night 2026, including Women Overall Farmer of the Year and Tilapia Farmer of the Year.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Baleisuva stated that she is proud to be recognised for the work she has done over the past few years.
Originally from Savusavu, she runs Kalitiana’s Enterprise Trading as Kaybees Farm, a thriving 5-acre integrated farm in Nakasi that combines tilapia and vegetable farming while also adopting smart farming methods such as hydroponics.
Baleisuva, who has been in the industry for over 12 years, says she has faced many challenges in farming but has worked hard to overcome them.
She says one of the biggest challenges has been the high water table at her farm, which makes crop production difficult, and that because of this, she has focused mainly on raising tilapia.
She adds that she is now working smarter by using a hydroponic system to grow crops, allowing her to continue production despite the challenging conditions.
She also says that women should trust themselves, work hard and start with whatever resources they have instead of relying on the government in the early stages.
INSERT: Baleisuva on women 10th Mar
Meanwhile, 24 women were honoured at the National Women in Agriculture Awards Night 2026, celebrating their resilience, innovation, leadership and transformation in Fiji’s agricultural sector.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran highlighted that the evening was about recognising the real drivers of Fiji’s rural economy.
Kiran emphasised that the agriculture sector continues to employ a significant portion of rural Fiji’s population and that women play an essential role, yet much of their contribution has historically been unpaid, informal or under-recognised.
She says many women started their enterprises as backyard initiatives, small family farms, women’s groups and informal cooperatives.
She says empowering women farmers is not only a social issue but also a productivity issue.
She also praised farmers who are adopting innovative and diversified farming systems, including integrated farming, crop diversification and using social media platforms to market and sell their produce.
The Minister emphasised that when women farmers succeed, Fiji succeeds; when rural women earn income, poverty declines; and when women formalise agricultural businesses, the national economy expands.
