For 38-year-old Bhai Parneel Singh, farming is more than a way to earn an income — it is a means of building a better future for his family and creating opportunities for others.

Based in Kulukulu Settlement, Nadroga/Navosa, Singh has spent the past 18 years turning a modest vegetable farm into a growing commercial enterprise that now supplies major hotels and markets across Viti Levu.

With only a secondary school education, Singh started farming on 11 acres of flatland under a Crown lease. Through years of hard work, careful planning and reinvestment, his operation has expanded to produce a wide variety of crops, including lettuce, coriander, eggplant, tomato, long bean, watermelon and cowpea.

In 2025 alone, the farm produced 99,520 kilograms of vegetables and generated a family income of $376,930.

Watermelon was one of his best-performing crops, with 23,000 kilograms produced and $69,000 earned. Coriander also provided strong returns, generating $55,120 despite having one of the lower production volumes among his major crops.

But for Singh, the numbers only tell part of the story.

He credits consistency, proper record-keeping and reinvesting in the farm as key factors behind his progress.

“I believe in keeping proper records because it helps me understand where I am going and what I need to improve,” Singh said.

His produce now reaches major establishments such as the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Holiday Inn Suva and Grand Pacific Hotel, as well as consumers at the Lautoka, Suva and Sigatoka markets.

His journey has also been supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry through the Commercial Agricultural Development Programme (CADP).

Through the programme, Singh received technical assistance, planting materials, agro-inputs and hydroponics support valued at $48,620, helping him modernise his operation and explore improved farming methods.

As his business continues to grow, Singh hopes to establish a proper packing house and storage facility. For now, packing is carried out at his home, showing the challenges faced by farmers as they expand their businesses.

Despite these limitations, Singh continues to invest in both his farm and his family.

His success is also benefiting people around him. The farm provides employment for six permanent workers, giving families in the community a source of regular income and stability.

Singh believes this is one of the most important parts of his farming journey.

“I want people to see that farming is not just about income, but also about feeding families, protecting the environment and building a future,” he said.

His message to those considering agriculture as a career is to begin with what they have, remain committed and build gradually.

“Start small but be consistent, keep proper records, reinvest in your farm, and don’t just think about money. Think about healthy food and opportunities for others. If you respect the land, the land will reward you.”

Singh’s story is ultimately about more than a successful farm. It is about a man who turned a small beginning into a livelihood, created jobs for others and continues to invest in his family and community.

His journey shows how determination, patience and a willingness to learn can help ordinary people turn agriculture into a sustainable future.