From the quiet halls of academia to the vibrant fields of Ba, Subashni Lal has rewritten her own life story—swapping books for boots in a bold move that is now inspiring women and future farmers across Fiji.

Born and raised in Tabia, Labasa, Subashni witnessed firsthand the challenges of rural life. Her father, a locomotive driver with the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC), raised the family on a modest cane farm. Those early years taught her the value of hard work, but also the harsh realities of farming in an era with limited support and resources.

After graduating from the University of the South Pacific and Fiji National University, Subashni built a successful career as a librarian, working at institutions like Labasa Sangam College and FNU. But in 2021, facing personal challenges as a single mother and divorcee, she made a life-altering decision: to leave her job in Suva and pursue her long-held passion for agriculture.

“I had seen the struggles of farm life, but I was confident that things had changed,” Subashni said.

“Technology, knowledge, and access are different now. I knew the risk was big, but so was the opportunity.”

Subashni registered her farming venture under the name ‘Freedom Farms (Fiji)’ and purchased her first plot of land in Vatusui, Ba, in 2020. The land was covered in dense bush and situated on mountainous terrain, but she had a vision. She began planting fruit trees just as the COVID-19 lockdowns were implemented.

However, the lockdown brought setbacks—neighboring cattle destroyed her early crops. Undeterred, she bought a second, larger farm in September 2021, only to suffer another blow when 200 tonnes of sugarcane were destroyed by pig hunters.

With only a week to harvest what remained, Subashni knew it was time to pivot.

That decision—to shift from sugarcane to cash crops and livestock—marked the beginning of her farm’s transformation.

“Hiring machinery in my area was almost impossible. So I made another bold move: I bought my own tractor,” she shared with a smile.

Today, Subashni manages 11 acres of productive farmland, with a goal to expand by five new acres and two new crops each year. Her crop portfolio is both diverse and strategic, including cassava, long beans, sorghum, pulses, mushrooms, papaya, rice, and over a dozen fruit varieties. Many of these crops are climate-resilient and have high market value locally and for export.

Her foray into livestock began modestly in 2022—with just two sheep and six chickens. But Subashni, always thinking innovatively, started feeding her poultry with what she could grow on the farm, including maize, millets, and cassava. She also introduced ‘Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL)’ as an organic, protein-rich feed—a move that drastically improved poultry growth and cut costs.

Now, her solar-powered incubators hatch up to 150 chicks a month across more than 10 breeds. The poultry is sold for both meat and breeding stock, generating a steady stream of income.

Farming has not only secured her daughter’s future but allowed her to maintain a two-bedroom home, two farm vehicles, a 75-horsepower tractor with seven modern implements, and fenced paddocks—all achieved through earnings from her agricultural ventures.

But Subashni’s mission doesn’t stop with her own success.

In 2022, she formed a local cluster of women in vegetable and livestock farming and was elected Vice President of All Women in Agriculture, Ba. She now works closely with community groups, schools, and vulnerable individuals to spread agricultural knowledge and empower others.

Her farm is evolving into a technology demonstration site and learning hub, showcasing practices like Black Soldier Fly larvae feed systems, liquid compost production, Juncao mushroom cultivation, organic crop rotations and farm mechanization for smallholders.

Freedom Farms (Fiji) is also collaborating with Nukuloa College and the China-Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration Center to establish a mushroom production center to train future farmers in Ba.

“Our vision is to create a climate-resilient, self-sufficient farm that not only supports our family but empowers our community,” Subashni said.

“Farming has given me more than just an income—it’s given me purpose.”

Subashni credits her husband, Sarath Sasidharan, and daughter, Shivala, as her biggest supporters in this journey. She hopes that their story will inspire others, especially women, to rediscover the potential of agriculture in transforming lives.

“In the end, it's not just about crops or livestock—it’s about growing hope, independence, and a better future.”

In a recent visit to their farm in Ba, Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Honourable Vatimi Rayalu heaped praises on their accomplishments so far.

“It is a noble profession that you have decided to venture into and I take my hats off to you for all the progress that you have made on your farm. Rest assured that the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways will support you in any way that we can to ensure that you continue to grow your farm and in turn assist in our efforts of growing agriculture in the country,” said Hon. Rayalu.

Hon. Rayalu’s remarks underscore the government’s commitment to supporting grassroots farming initiatives and strengthening food security through sustained agricultural development.

ENDS

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