Vika Vataniyaragi Tadu Varuru, 25, is vying for the title of Miss Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North with a mission to promote food security and sustainable livelihoods in Fiji. Sponsored by the Northern Civil Service, Varuru, who works as a dietitian at the Labasa Health Centre, is one of nine contestants competing in this week’s festival at Subrail Park in Labasa.
Hailing from Nasinu Village in Cakaudrove, with maternal ties to Yavea in Vanuabalavu, Lau, Varuru expressed her enthusiasm for using the platform to raise awareness about the pressing issue of food security.
“As a dietitian, I’ve been visiting schools and communities to conduct health talks, but speaking to thousands of people from the stage will be a unique experience,” Varuru noted. She emphasized the importance of addressing food insecurity, highlighting that many people in Fiji, particularly in the North, face challenges in accessing safe, nutritious, and sufficient food.
Factors contributing to food insecurity include diverse financial circumstances, the lack of resources, fluctuating market prices, the impact of climate change on agriculture, and a heavy reliance on imported food, which often leads to prioritizing quantity over quality.
“To achieve food security, we must advocate for sustainable agriculture, beginning at home. This can involve cultivating backyard gardens, growing our own food, and choosing locally produced options,” she stated.
Varuru has a twin sister and a younger brother. Her mother teaches at Wairiki Kindergarten in Labasa, while her father is employed by the Water Authority of Fiji.