The Nadawa Methodist Women’s Fellowship is promoting mushroom cultivation as a lucrative venture for its members. According to Nanise Litea, the leader of the group, there are currently 64 women involved, though only a few have participated actively in mushroom farming.
For the past 30 years, Litea has been part of the Nadawa community and has led the fellowship for the past two years. The initiative to grow mushrooms began from a community workshop held three months ago, which inspired the members. Lynda Tabuya, the Minister for Women, has been supportive of their efforts.
Next week, the Minister plans to visit the fellowship to provide further assistance as they continue their collaboration with the China-Fiji Juncao Technology Demonstration program to enhance mushroom cultivation training.
Tabuya has also provided two mushroom cultivation machines to the group, recognizing their progress. A member from Nadawa noted that the mushrooms require seven days to grow and are a valuable addition to their farming methods, despite being relatively new to them.
Currently, the mushrooms sold for $5 per package (500 grams), and while there have been challenges in the market, the women are actively marketing their products alongside the Minister’s support. The group is committed to improving their financial situation through these efforts, focusing on both the cultivation process and the marketing of their mushrooms.
Litea encouraged other women in the community to join the fellowship to enhance their skills and support their families financially through mushroom cultivation.