Miliana Fong, a widowed mother of five and a university lecturer, has found a passion in sugarcane farming alongside her academic career. Although farming is a demanding job that requires her to work seven days a week without paid sick leave or overtime, she finds it empowering and appreciates the independence it brings her.
At 43 years old, Fong teaches mathematics at Fiji National University in Labasa and credits her strength to her faith in Jesus Christ. The journey into farming began when COVID-19 hit in 2020, prompting her late husband to invest in a sugarcane business. They used their savings to purchase a 13-acre plot of land, cultivating eight acres with sugarcane.
Coming from Dreketi, Macuata, Fong faced challenges in finding laborers, leading to the purchase of a tractor to assist with land preparation. After her husband passed away two years ago, she persevered through difficulties with the support of her family, continuing the farming venture that was part of their retirement plan.
Fong is dedicated to her four daughters, the youngest being just two years old, and wants them to understand the legacy of their parents’ initiative. Her children assist with the farming tasks during weekends.
Beginning her career as a secondary school teacher in 2001, Fong improved her qualifications at the University of the South Pacific, eventually becoming a lecturer in 2016. This year, she successfully supplied 179 tonnes of sugarcane to the Labasa Mill and recently received a farm mechanization subsidy grant of $4,200 for a fertilizer applicator, making her the only female recipient from the Sugarcane Growers Fund.
Fong encourages mothers to remain resilient, even when life does not unfold as planned. Reflecting on her experiences, she noted, “I struggled a lot because my husband and I didn’t know how to farm sugarcane. We kept learning from others, and today I am a happy farmer.”