The recent training held in Nayarabale village, Vaturova in Cakaudrove has certainly enlightened the widows and single mothers attending the training, on the many opportunities of earning additional income.

Senimili Seniuci of Baleyaganiga village attended the Grafting and Marcotting Training conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways Research team in the village last week.

After losing her husband during the Covid-19 pandemic period, Senimili has single handedly raised her five children.

“I had to raise my children because no one else would do it for me. It has been challenging but I keep reminding myself that I need to continue to support my children and provide for them as long as I am alive,” she said.

“My eldest child is now working and resides in Lautoka City while my remaining children are still in school,” she said.

“At home, I will always advise them that they need to be grateful for whatever is provided for them and we all need to work together to make the best out of life,” she said.

The family have been planting yaqona to sustain themselves and she would go with her four children to weed and maintain their farm. They later faced problems on their yaqona farm as it suffered some setbacks and the yaqona plants didn’t survive.

The family looked closer to home for another source of income and food for the family and found it in the river that runs close to the village.

“My second child wanted to study aviation and become a pilot but because of the high cost of fees we couldn’t afford to pay for his studies and he had to forego his dream. He has not given up though as he still plants yaqona to assist the family and says that he will expand his farm to cater for his future studies,”  smiled.

“This year one of my daughters left the home and enrolled in nursing school. During the training, it dawned on me that I can start raising native tree seedlings around the village and sell them to cater for her nursing school fees.”

“I am thankful that I attended this training as it has inspired me to think outside the box using the resources around me. I do not have to go far from the village and I can now practice grafting at home and sell it too for the future of my children.”

Senior Agriculture Officer (Cakaudrove), Perina Susu advised the women participants to utilise the assistance provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways.

“In the ministry, we have the ‘Women in Agriculture’ program that is designed for women to develop their skills and production in agriculture using the resources around them such as floriculture, vanilla and value addition. We want women in our rural and outer islands to be independent and to also earn income that will benefit their families.”

The ministry hopes that the various trainings conducted in the respective villages and communities will empower women with knowledge and various methods of earning their livelihoods through increased agricultural productivity.

-ENDS-

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