If given a chance to farm on a bigger piece of land, 70-year-old Dur Samy of Vuninokonoko in Navua says, that he will take it as he will be able to triple his farming production without any hesitation.

The hardworking farmer started his farming venture with rice farming whilst still living in Waidova which is also located in Navua.

“I used to farm rice back in the days but then Cyclone Kina occurred in January of 1993 and caused great devastation to my rice paddy. I then decided to look for a much better place which is not prone to flooding,” said Mr. Samy.

“I purchased two quarter acres of land in 1996 and decided to do vegetable farming, dividing it into two where I also built a house for my family and the rest of the land was used for vegetable farming.”

“I enjoyed farming on this land because not only is it secure and close to the market, but there is also a slim chance of flooding due to its location as compared to the previous one as all I could think of was my prized crops especially during the rainy weather,” stressed Mr. Samy.

Mr. Samy had to start from scratch when building his backyard vegetable farm which slowly gained momentum after he hung a sign outside his property to alert passersby that he was selling vegetables.

He started with only cabbage, long beans and okra and in 2000 he incorporated techniques that enabled him to produce quality vegetables through the main season and off-season of vegetables.

He juggled his time well with regards to doing odd jobs now and then and always returning to his home to end the day on his vegetable farm.

His interest in farming started from a young age and this allowed him to gain work in several companies including the Ministry of Agriculture as a dairy and livestock officer, poultry section at Ram Sami and Sons Ltd, then to the Fiji Dairy Limited also known back then as Rewa Dairy Company Limited.

He later became a lecturer at the Pacific Institute of Technology (NZPTC) based in Nadi for a period of two years.

“In all my years of working, I was also doing backyard farming, attending to it every morning and afternoons and on weekends. It has become a passion activity which I cannot forego and now that I have retired, the routine continues,” he said.

Mr. Samy is planting assorted vegetables namely tomato, lettuce, long bean, okra, cabbage, zucchini, coriander (dhaniya), long and French bean, and pumpkin and sells them at the Navua market.

In the 2023/2024 financial year, the Ministry assisted Mr. Samy with a hydroponic system kit to assist him with production.

“Having a hydroponic system is good even though it took some time to get used to. But we have to learn to keep updated with all these technologies of farming so that we are able to produce more food for our families and our markets,” he said.

“I am happy with the return I get from backyard gardening. I have invested in my family and the development of the vegetable farm as I now have a nursery for my seedlings, for planting and of course for supplying to other interested enthusiasts,” he smiled.

In recognition of his perseverance and passion, he was awarded the ‘Backyard Farmer of the Year’ during the National Agriculture Show in 2023.

“At this age, I can still do a lot more and I am not thinking of retiring from farming.  If I am able to purchase more land, I will continue to farm. I don’t know why people do not like farming as they can be their own boss and be able to earn money on a daily and weekly basis,” said the soft-spoken man.

Mr. Samy hopes that more youths will engage in agriculture and make use of the abundant land around them.

“I am only planting in my backyard and what I produced so far has paid off. If you have a big piece of land, please utilise it well.”

“It is time that we take agriculture seriously and help grow food for our families, communities and nation as a whole. Without farming, there will be less food on the table and that is where social problems will arise. I urge all Fijians to start planting their own food and let us help to grow agriculture in Fiji.”

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