ILISAPECI TUIVALE
For Taniela Kama, pulling away from the usual yaqona and dalo farming on the island of Kadavu was a decision he knew came with a lot of risks, but also a lot of profit.
The Tavuki villager supplies eggs to the local shops and a supermarket on the island and believes that starting something new was a challenge to take on and required a lot of courage.
“I have more than 70 goats and more than 200 layer birds. I still do crop and yaqona farming but not as much as my sons do and I’ve seen that the best times to sell goats are during Easter, Christmas and New Year. These are the times where I get customers from outside of Kadavu wanting to buy goats. I sell eggs to the shops and supermarket on the island and business is good,” he said.
The interest for poultry farming came about when Mr. Kama learnt that nothing goes to waste – the chickens supply him with eggs that he sells and the chicken manure helps fertilise the soil.
Goat farming was a bonus for him because he saw that no one else on the island took goat farming seriously.
“I am a strong advocate against the use of chemical fertiliser and I only use goat and chicken manure on my farms. Chemical fertiliser harms the soil and prevents it from produce its rich minerals that plants need.”
During this year’s Kadavu Provincial Council Meeting held at his village, Mr. Kama received assistance under the Integrated Human Resources Development Programme – an assistance given out by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport.
Mr. Kama received goat fences and corrugated iron for his farm in the assistance package.
“I am grateful for this assistance because it will enable me to expand my livestock farm. I started my farming with green leafy vegetables before stepping into yaqona and livestock farming.”
Apart from goats and chickens, Mr. Kama’s farm also has ducks, capsicums and other vegetables on his farm.
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