By DIPESH KUMAR
A NEW farm road initiative undertaken by the Coalition Government will help a village of 98 households to gain access to essential amenities and uplift the community out of poverty.
The farm road initiative will transform the lives of these residents in the interior hills, addressing long standing challenges faced by the villagers.
Around 30 families in Navunitawa have struggled with limited access to basic resources such as clean water, education, healthcare and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Navunitawa mataqali member, 73-year- old Mereseini Vosaboto expressed her joy for the new road and shared that her suffering of many years has finally come to an end.
“I moved here in 1973 with my husband for farming who has now passed away. I hope the old villagers who passed on were alive to witness the road come right down to our village.”
“We planted dalo and cassava and I had to walk 3.5 km up the mountain so that we can hire the vans to take us to town. Now it is very easy for us to take our produce to the Nadi market,” she said.
Mrs Vosaboto also shared that it was a struggle to send her children to school and to hospitals when they became sick.
She said in order to resolve these issues the community had to come up with a solution that would help them in the long term.
“We used to take our children and climb the mountain every day and then call the carrier to take them to school. It costed $100 to hire a vehicle one way.”
“It was very hard, however, we decided to purchase a land near the town where our children can stay and study from,” she said.
“We planted yaqona and dalo and after selling it we saved the money and bought land in Nawaka so that it would be easy for our children to go to school from there. It was also easier for us to go and sleep there while we are in town to sell our produce.”
“I am very happy that after years of struggle, from climbing and riding on horseback to reach the main road, to now seeing the road coming right up to our village. Now I can call the car near my house which can take me to the town and hospital,” she commended.
Turaga ni Koro, Moave Sese, also shared that the new road which now comes down to their homes will encourage the villagers to expand their farms as it will easier for them to transport their produce.
“I am thankful to the Government, for years we have been struggling and requesting the Governments to help us, now it is being heard.”
“Before we used to take our root crops on the horseback for 3.5 kilometres, and then catch the transport. Sometimes the horses died carrying the load,” he revealed.
“Agriculture is our main source of income, we supply turmeric, cassava, dalo and banana. Now, the new road will encourage the youth in village to plant more as the transport can now come to our doorsteps.”
During the opening for the new farm road, Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, shared that the construction of the new road cost $28,000.
Minister Ditoka shared that this was a government initiative for the agricultural sector in a bid to support the farmers in the interior.
“The new road will not only benefit farmers but also school children and you will have access to hospitals. It will also make it easier for farmers to take their produce to the market.”
He highlighted that the after recognising several challenges, the coalition government has taken this step to promote improved quality of life for the villagers.