Anare Saruicava fondly recalls his youth spent watching his father sell root crops at the Suva market in the 1970s. Now in his late 60s and a retired member of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Anare reflects on how those early experiences ignited his passion for farming, which he pursued alongside his military career.
“My family has been involved in farming for about 54 to 70 years, dating back to when my father cultivated root crops,” he shared. “We were among the first iTaukei families to sell yaqona at the original Suva market in 1970. I was still a student then, accompanying my father to sell coconuts at the market.”
He notes the advancements in transportation, stating, “Now, bigger boats arrive daily in the city, making it easier for people to shop and return home.”
Currently, Anare operates a farm in Namacu village on Koro Island, where he grows kava, dalo, and various other root crops. He dedicated 35 years to the RFMF, with his first deployment in 1991 to Lebanon for three years, and other missions including three trips to Sinai and a significant time in Syria, where he faced challenging conditions.
After retiring at 65, Anare chose to return to his village with his family. “My first dalo harvest yielded about three tons, earning me around $7,000. Now, I harvest dalo weekly to send to Suva, and once that’s done, I’ll concentrate on yaqona,” he explained, adding that he also cultivates other vegetables and crops.
Anare noted that yaqona is currently priced at approximately $90 per kilogram, while other varieties can reach $100; however, purchasing directly from Koro can reduce the cost to around $50 per kilogram.
He emphasized that commercial farming is not as straightforward as one might think. “Farming requires investment, and partnering with someone to start planting can be beneficial. It’s challenging to manage one or two acres by yourself,” he stated. “Collaboration is key to achieving a larger yield in the village.”
Anare shared that they typically plant in hilly areas, transporting the crops back to the village before shipping them out. The commute from his village to the farm takes about 45 minutes, but the poor condition of access roads on Koro poses significant challenges for many farmers.
“The main issue we face in Koro is the bad state of our farm roads. If improvements are made, we could increase our crop production,” he noted. While some farmers appreciate the rainy weather for planting, others prefer drier conditions.
Anare pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted farming, but they continued to cultivate crops and remained optimistic. He encourages the public to take the initiative in planting crops for financial stability.
“Start planting, even on a small scale. People often undervalue farmers, but we have a steady income,” he said. “I have managed to support my family, and it’s essential to be grateful for what we have.”