THE assistance extended by Government to small businesses must be used well to expand and grow rather than letting it go to waste.
This was the advice by Parveena Kumar, who operates a successful horticulture business known as Parveena’s Secret Garden in Koronivia, to all those getting any form of Government assistance.
Mrs Kumar, who is originally from the salad bowl of Fiji, had assistance worth over $5,000 given to her through the Commission Central Division’s Office to facilitate the extension of her nursery.
Provincial Administer Rewa, Josevata Suka, who opened the new extension, said that the assistance will boost the business that was already luring customers from as far as Suva and Navua.
“They have been operating the business for a long time and have been participating in flower show events. Now with the extension, they will be able to expand and boost their income,” he said.
For Parveena, this will allow her to indulge her passion and at the same time earn some extra money as more women are getting into the flower business.
“The plants I sell range from $5 to $50 and there are a lot more customers as more women are now interested in flowers and some even support their families through this business,” she said.
Flowers are known for their aesthetic and therapeutic qualities and Parveena believes it is not only a good way of keeping fit but is also a great stress buster.
Future plans for the flower enthusiast includes importing new plants to increase her variety which currently includes anthurium, orchids, desert roses, bougainvillea, cactus, geranium and herbs.
Parveena has been in the business for the last 10 years and gets a lot of assistance from her husband and son.
Her husband, Jagdish Kumar, in his own right is a successful farmer specialising in high value vegetables such as zucchini, capsicum, purple English cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli that he supplies to a well-known hotel and local supermarkets.