Picture: Kiran Lal at her floriculture nursery in Vatuwaqa.
Her love for flowers knows no
bounds and there is not a day that one will not find her in her garden.
Floriculturist, Ms. Kiran Lal,
71, who resides in Vatuwaqa, outside Suva has made use of every available space
in her compound, from the front of her yard to the sides of her home, right to
her backyard – every inch of land is taken up by her plants.
She has different species of anthuriums,
herbs, spices, and golden palms that have been set up neatly and tightly
stacked with a narrow pathway snaking its way throughout her greenhouse, the
only space for movement. Yet, Kiran easily glides between her flowers almost as
if floating on air as she knows exactly where each is located and which needs
her attention.
Kiran recalls her childhood where
farming was the family’s main source of income.
“My mum was a farmer and when I was
young, together with my ten other siblings we used to help mum. Every day we
would be helping mum and dad. We used to grow pineapples, yaqona, vegetables,
and root crops in our farm in Wainibuku,” she said.
“Every Thursdays we would prepare
all the things for the market, pack it in bundles and have it ready for the
market. Fridays my mum or brothers would take it to the market to sell. That
was our source of income.”
She said taking care of her
plants was her happy place, a hobby that she is passionate about.
“This,” looking around and
gesturing with her arms, “is my hobby. I am always here every day, it helps me
keep my mind busy and it keeps me healthy too. I don’t have pain in my body, I
still carry heavy buckets, even though I am 71 years’ old.”
“I do this all by myself. I mix
everything the mud, the manure, the sand – into the pots.”
Her greenhouse is located at her
home on Khemindra Street. She has been delving in this industry from her home
for over 20 years.
She only sells once a month at
the Roc Market and the Market Day at Sports City. Otherwise, her hobby is to
only to be with her plants, watch them grow beautifully, and continue to take
care of them.
In commemorating International
Women’s Day, Kiran’s advice to other women was they should work hard even
though their husbands may be employed full time.
“Ladies, should take up something
that will keep them active, like working in a garden or anything. If you have
available land near or around your home, plant something. You don’t have plant
a lot, start small, like two plants of baigan
(Eggplant).
“You don’t need to buy anything
from the market, just plant it home. You will help your husband and your family
and your health too,” she said.
The Ministry of Agriculture
assisted Kiran in expanding her greenhouse nursery last year by providing her
with the building materials. This was made possible after her Floriculture
Group called Dream Women Empowerment registered their group, hence five members
were assisted.
Dream Women Empowerment Group was
assisted under the Ministry of Agriculture’s Women in Agriculture capital
programme to assist women entrepreneur to start or expand their cottage
industries. Government allocated $150k this current financial year.
The programme supports women and
women’s group for active participation in Agriculture Development through the;
commercializing floriculture for cut flowers and green foliage production and
establishment of nurseries; and strengthening traditional art through
commercializing Voivoi and Masi production.
-ENDS-