Ulaiasi Halofaki, founder of It is Good Enterprise, says the journey began long before his business was officially registered in February 2024, while he was still working as a civil servant.
While speaking with fijivillage News about his journey, Halofaki says he started buying and selling kava with friends on a small scale while still employed before deciding to leave the security of government work and focus on business full-time.
He says one of the biggest challenges in the beginning was having no capital to start with.
Halofaki says a friend helped him with $1,000 and with that support they bought their first 10kg of kava, which was initially sold through his village before gradually expanding into larger markets.
He says the business name, It is Good Enterprise, was inspired by a church sermon and a message of positivity and faith.
According to Halofaki, the company was built on the belief that challenges should be seen as opportunities rather than barriers.
He says the business later expanded from simply buying and selling kava to planting kava with family members in Vanua Levu.
Halofaki says with assistance from Biosecurity and advice from the Ministry of Agriculture, the company has now moved into export markets, including Australia and Indonesia.
While the business continues to grow, Halofaki says the journey has not been easy.
He is also calling on the government for assistance in fixing the roads in the area to make it easier for farmers to travel.
He says rising fuel costs, increasing expenses and customers failing to make payments continue to affect operations.
Despite these challenges, Halofaki says his faith and the support of his family, especially his wife, have helped him continue moving forward.
He says the business is now focused not only on making profits but also on helping farmers improve their lives.
Insert: Halofaki on farmers lives improve 22nd May 26
Halofaki says many of the farmers he works with are former students, and relatives.
He says the company assists farmers by helping market their products and ensuring they are not taken advantage of by middlemen.
Halofaki says he regularly visits farming groups to mentor and encourage them to stay focused on their goals.
He is also encouraging young people and villagers to make better use of the resources available to them, especially land.
Halofaki says people should not give up and should continue finding ways to turn the opportunities around them into something meaningful.
