Twenty thousand dalo plants have been planted by the youths of Masi village in the interior of Serua since the inception of the youth group in 2008.
Government supplied them with 500 dalo suckers in 2008 plus farming equipments including farming folks, spade and spraying tanks for their dalo plantation.
The farming project has been the biggest source of income to the 16 member youth group.
Masi Youth Group president Ratu Lenoa Roseru said that in every harvest, they usually pack 60 bags of dalo and have also built 6 bamboo rafts to transport the dalo down to Navua.
The Masi youth have been supplying dalo to exporters including Bens Trading and Kaiming of Navua and have never failed in their quota supply to the 2 companies.
“The two markets prices remain stable because we maintain our agreement with them,” Ratu Lenoa said.
Earnings from the youth farm do not only benefit the youths but also benefit the whole village.
“We managed to give $1,800 for our church fundraising, we bought 40 roofing materials for our community hall, $4,000 is invested with Fijian Holdings, $2,000 is for servicing the Community Hall, $500 allowance for Nuku Catholic School,
$1,000 School Fees, Building Fund and $100 allowance each for our 2 Secondary Schools students,” Ratu Lenoa said.
Ratu Lenoa said when Government officials visited them in 2008, the idea of forming the youth group and indulging in an income generating project was initiated.
The available land resources meant that planting dalo would be a best business project for the youths.
Luke Ravu the youth Farm Manager said the youth group also enhances their dalo production through time management.
“Every Wednesday the whole village work in the farm from 8am to 4.30pm,” Luke said.
Luke said apart from their dalo farm they also have a yaqona farm with a total of 1,000 yaqona plants going on its fourth year now.
Luke said they are thankful to Government for giving them the insight to venture into this income generating projects.
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