A Beqa farmer has turned years of hard work, resilience and determination into a successful livelihood despite facing disease, rising transport costs and the challenges of island farming.

Sevanaia Vulacadra, 42, of Dakuni Village has spent more than 20 years growing yaqona and vegetables after leaving school in 2002. Without formal agricultural training, he learned through experience, developing the skills needed to manage crops, changing seasons and market demands.

His commitment to farming has enabled him to build three homes, purchase a fibre boat in 2020 and provide for his family. Together with his wife, Seremana Batirau Kunadei, he is raising four children, with the eldest now in Form 6 and the youngest attending kindergarten in Galoa.

In 2023, his yaqona plantation suffered a major setback when Kava Dieback Disease destroyed his crop. Rather than giving up, Vulacadra removed and burned the infected plants before travelling to Navosa to obtain new planting materials and establish another farm on a different site.

To maintain a steady income while waiting for yaqona to mature, he expanded into off-season tomato production and other vegetables. He said a single tomato harvest can generate about FJD $4,000, with four harvests possible during the off-season and two during the main season.

Operating from Beqa also comes with significant transport costs. Vulacadra spends about FJD $200 to ship produce by boat to the mainland and another FJD $200 for truck transport to markets. With fuel prices increasing, he is considering shared transport options to reduce expenses.

His produce reaches consumers through established suppliers, despite the logistical challenges of transporting crops from the island.

The family now spends extended periods at a farmhouse built under the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry’s Yaqona Program during the 2024/2025 financial year. The new facility has reduced long daily walks to the farm and allows the family to work together more efficiently before returning to the village for market days and community events.

Agriculture Assistant for Beqa, Luisa Marama, praised Vulacadra for embracing diversification and government support while continuing to inspire other farmers through his determination and willingness to adapt.