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By Kuini Waqasavou Ministry of Primary Industries So many struggles of the past have seen a significant change in the life of 67-year-old Iliesa Nacewa of Naikorokoro Settlement in Nadroga. The lines etched across his face and the scars on his feet tell so many stories of heartache and endurance that he has had to go through to reach his goals in life.
Originally born and bred in his village of Yavulo in the Nadroga Province, Iliesa says that it is a life that he would rather forget as it is filled with so many regrets. “There are a lot of things that I have regretted in my life but one thing that I will never regret is heeding the call of the land and toiling it for a living,” he smiled. “I for one, thought that village life was holding me back as I had been following the normal routine like taking part in social gatherings and other things that took up a lot of time,” he said. “There was a certain grasp that my old life seemed to have on me back in the village and moving into our piece of land in Naikorokoro was the best decision ever,” he said softly. Iliesa moved into Naikorokoro in 1966 and from humble beginnings, he soon rose to become a commercial farmer with just a cane knife and a digging fork. “We decided to move here so that we could start our own farm and at the first sight of our land, one could easily have fainted as it was filled with overgrown guava trees, shrubs, grasses of all kinds and what not,” he laughed. “That did not deter me from starting and I taught my sons the hard way of land clearing using only cane knives.” When friendships began establishing in the farming community, Iliesa soon had the luxury of borrowing a few animal driven farm machineries and soon the whole nine acres of land was cleared. “It was a relief for my sons to see that the whole bush land was now cleared and ready for land preparation,” said Iliesa. That is ancient history for Iliesa now as he is now running a neat and proper vegetable and root-crop farm but still using animal drawn machineries. And Iliesa is not giving up the hard work on the farm as he is the main man running the whole show. “Currently I am working on the farm with one son and a son in law and together we make a perfect team,” he beamed. Iliesa said that work on the farm starts at 5am when the sun is still making its way to the clouds and they break at 11am. “There is so much to do around the farm and our days are busier with the main vegetable season that is currently here,” he said. Iliesa’s farm production has been boosted with the technical services of Agriculture Assistant (Lower Valley) Lusiana Tumaitoga. “Field visits are carried out weekly and it’s amazing to see the production of many farmers around the area especially during the main vegetable season,” she said. “Farming is their life so we assist them in any way that we can to ensure that their farm develops and everything is running smoothly.” Ms Tumaitoga also added that Iliesa has been one of the many farmers that have been assisted with vegetable seeds and fertilizer. “As an officer looking after this locality, I visit the farmers and see to their complaints especially during the main vegetable season.” “Complaints of pests and diseases are common throughout the year and we advise farmers on the various methods that they should incorporate into their farming systems,” she explained. Like all farmers, Iliesa plans on developing his farm further to accommodate the demand for fresh fruits and vegetables locally and overseas. “I can say that farmers are not producing enough locally and many farmers should also involve themselves in off-season vegetable farming,” said Iliesa. “I for one also plant during the off-season and it’s always a boost for the family financially,” he smiled. “I have been supplying my vegetables to the local markets and most times, middlemen come here to my farm to buy it fresh so it saves me a lot of traveling expenses,” he smiled. For Iliesa, life has certainly made a turn for the better and his farm now is a far cry from the land once filled with guava trees. “Every time I look at my farm, I think back of all the sweat and tears that I had to endure to reach this far and I can now breath a sigh of relief because I know I am getting there,” he smiled proudly. With so many dreams yet to be fulfilled, Iliesa and his small-knit family know that in unity nothing can tear them apart. “It is typical here in the country that whenever one is doing well in whatever he is doing, there is bound to be a lot of bickering and complaints.” “I have never cared and nor have my family because we know we have been called to return to this land for a purpose and that is to toil it for a living because in return it will give us what we need,” explained Iliesa. On the issue of rising costs of basic food items, Iliesa says that it was bound to happen anyway. “These are the signs of times that people around the world have been studying and the price hike that has occurred globally is something that everyone around the world should have been prepared for.” “What better way to cushion the effects of it all but by planting your own food and it’s as simple as that,” he said smilingly. Iliesa says that over the years, a lot of people in rural areas have been moving into the urban areas in search of a better life. “What better life is there than living in the village and doing a lot of planting and fishing?” he questioned. The concerned farmer also added that the rural to urban drift is the main contributing factor to the rise in crimes in urban areas. “That is why youths in the villages should involve themselves in farming activities and other constructive things that will help build their character and earn themselves money as well,” he added. Iliesa admits that at his age, he is still building his dreams of becoming a commercial farmer. “I still want to run a mechanized farm and that is our main aim at the moment, so we are getting there, slowly but surely!” Iliesa hopes that farmers around the country will now realise their worth in these trying times. “I just want to encourage them not to give up but give it everything they got and surely, they will be rewarded. “For those of you thinking of starting a farm; please do not hesitate because time is of great value and if you start planting now, the better for you come harvesting time, and you will certainly have the last laugh,” he laughed. ENDS |
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