The Nadawa Methodist Women’s Fellowship, led by Nanise Litea, is making significant strides in mushroom cultivation as a means to improve financial stability. The organization, which has grown from the contributions of its founding members, now has 64 female members actively involved in this initiative.
Nanise highlighted that she has been based in Nadawa for 30 years and has been leading the fellowship for the past two years. The recent introduction of mushroom farming stemmed from a three-month hands-on workshop conducted at their church, which was inspired by a member’s initiative, catching the attention of Minister for Women Lynda Tabuya, who has since supported their efforts.
In the coming week, Minister Tabuya plans to provide further assistance and to reconnect with the women’s group as part of the China-Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration project, aimed at enhancing mushroom cultivation training.
Moreover, Lynda has supplied the group with two cultivation machines due to the noticeable progress of their operations. One woman from Nadawa has reportedly cultivated mushrooms successfully, taking around seven days for the mushrooms to mature, which she claims is a great asset for the community. Though new to them, the technique has proven effective and is anticipated to be a quick source of income, with sales already underway.
Currently, mushrooms are sold for around $5 per 500 grams, with the market becoming increasingly competitive as demand continues to rise. The fellowship has emphasized the financial benefits derived from this venture, encouraging more women in the area to join their ranks. They stress the importance of leveraging local skills and resources, which can contribute substantially to their families’ incomes.
Nanise encourages other women in the region to join these groups to harness their skills for financial gain and to explore new culinary possibilities.