In her desire to have a stable future, Subsashni Lal has left her job as a librarian at the Fiji National University at Derrick Campus and has pursed farming vegetables and livestock. Lal, who is from Vatusui in Ba, says she decided to resign and focus on farming after purchasing a piece of land in Vatusui.
Lal says despite the devastation caused by COVID-19 in 2020 which destroyed all their farm produce, they remained focused on rebuilding what was lost during that difficult time. Lal owns a registered business called Freedom Farms Fiji, which operates two farms, one focused on mushrooms and livestock and the other on orchards and a variety of other crops.
The 37-year-old says she has been running her mushroom, crop, vegetable and livestock business. She says she grew up in Labasa, where her family was involved in farming from an early age and that upbringing inspired her to continue farming.
Lal is also encouraging young people to get involved in farming, and says they may not see immediate returns, but she believes that in the long run, it will lead to better financial stability.
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