GROW FIJI FOUNDATION; HELPING PEOPLE THROUGH AGRICULTURE; BY GEORGE KEIAHO
I grew up in Fiji and migrated to the United States in 1985 when I was ten years old. My family lived in Suva, Fiji's capital and I attended Nabua and Gospel Primary. Many of my relatives still reside on the Island and we have stayed in touch throughout the years. After spending twenty five years in the States I decided it was time to visit where I had grown up. Upon my return I noticed much had not changed, the beauty of the land, amazing climate and gracious people made me realize that I was finally back home.
Even though much had not changed, I did notice that the potential for Fiji is extremely underutilized. The land is plentiful and unused, the rains come consistently making everything green, the rivers flow from mountain top to the seas. The ocean is warm and clear with plentiful corals and fish. The reefs surround the island with waves crashing upon them.
Much of the land still belongs to tribal members which has caused progress to occur slowly. The issue of land is near and dear to the Fijian's because that is how we identify where we are from. When a native is born they belong to their father's village so when one might ask, "Where you are from?" the person will identify the village of their father.
As of today I still hold a Fijian passport. I am from the Rewa district and the village I belong to is Lominakoro. The names of all of my brothers and sisters who were born there are registered members of this village as well.
Although progress is slow among the native Fijian's, many businesses have opened by immigrants from other countries such as England, India, Australia, New Zealand and China. The tourist industry has been the fastest growing. As more people vacation in Fiji the demand for fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy and protein have increased dramatically with very little production on the Island.
According to the Fiji Bureau of Government Statistics, Fiji is importing vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy products at an average cost of four hundred million dollars per year. Most of the foods being imported can be grown or produced locally. Low production is due to lack of education and disorganization by the people. Although most Fijians have access to education what they lack is a vision on how to utilize their land, business research and planning, devising and presenting ideas to corporations, banks and other institutions who can provide funding. Also a lack of organization among tribal members causes potential business ventures to lag. Additionally members are scattered throughout the island or have moved overseas and villages do not keep contact records.
Despite the low production of these commodities Fiji has the potential to grow it's own food and be self-sustained. Here are some considerations to why farming in Fiji would be good for the people and nation. A lot of land sits idle in Fiji and there is very little cultivation by the locals. Being close to the equator the rains are plentiful with 150 inches on the coast and 200 inches in the interior. The temperature is warn year round so the growing season never ends. The soil is rich in nutrients and excellent for growing produce. The high imports can be cut so the local economy can retain the capital. Increasing the cultivation of vegetable and fruit crops will drive down prices and add nutritional value to local diets.
Considering all these incentives for growing local produce, Fiji is still very behind. Even though I have spent most of my time in the states my heart still belongs in my home country, and I want give back. So I have created The Grow Fiji Foundation that will attack the issues that are front and center. Founded by George Keiaho and board members Derek Swafford, Ryan Wheeler and Griff Williamson our goal is to start a five acre farm in Fiji. We will give a portion of our harvest to the poor and schools of our choosing. The farm will begin growing tomatoes, lettuce, bell peppers and celery and then expand into other vegetables and fruits. When we have harvested our produce we will choose a location, set up a produce stand, organize the donation package and people can sign in and receive their aid. Also we will choose different schools each month, deliver our produce on site and have them serve it to the students for breakfast and lunch. Our ideal goal is to donate every two weeks but we will start out monthly until we have a wide range of produce and harvesting on a consistent level.
In addition to donating to the poor and schools Grow Fiji Foundation will open the five acre plot to educating the locals about cultivation. The board will select individuals and allow them to come and stay at the farm site to learn about the every day responsibilities of operations. We will them teach about ripping, tilling, bedding and fertilizing soil. Seeding, transplanting, pest control, harvest, post harvest handling, packaging and storage. Learning institutions will also have access such as primary, secondary schools, and colleges. After the students have learned how to operate on their own, Grow Fiji Foundation will help them set up their own farm using our tools.
The board members of Grow Fiji Foundation will be George Keiaho, Derek Swafford, Ryan Wheeler and Griff Williamso. We are life long friends and one thing we have in common is the out door adventures. As a child my activites consisted of visiting any of Fiji's three hundred and thirty islands, traveling to the high lands that consist of rain forest or riding boats down the many rivers in Fiji. Although the States has many
The Farm is located in Suva, Nakasi Naulu village. Four acres will be cultivated and then we will expand the area and produce variety. The population in the city is 330,000 and most live under the poverty line. There are many super markets and restaurants that need local produce. My grandmother's house is located twenty minutes away and we have on site housing the the students.
Suva city; SM, supermarkets GMH, grandmothers house.
