Natovi Farmers with AMA Procurement Officer Mr. Tunoa Rokomaqa.

By: Serafina Silaitoga

MARKETING challenges have ended for members of the Natovi Farmers Cooperative as they have secured a market with the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA).

Following consultation with the Department of Cooperative, Ministry of Agriculture and the Agriculture Marketing Authority at the Natovi Catholic Parish early this week, the members, for the rst time, hosted the consultation for the sake of greater plans.

Group spokesman Petero Sina said they started last year after the parish priest gave them a piece of land to plant dalo.

“Every month, we come and clean up in this parish and plant food for the parish too. So last year, our priest told us to make use of the church land and form a group to plant dalo,” Mr Sina said.

“We did and we formed in May last year and by November, we registered our co-op and this is our rst meeting with Government officials.

“This consultation is to inform farmers about marketing opportunities and assistance available for us to make use of. And we have sold our rst few bags of dalo to AMA in this meeting.”

Mr Sina said every member had to pay a fee of $100, which could be done in installments.

Income generated from this farming project, he said was used to help run the co-op group and give back a portion to the church.

“Once we are selling a lot of products, then we will make sure that members also take home a portion to support their families.

“Years ago, we used to plant Hawaiian pawpaw and we sold to a huge market but a cyclone damaged our farm and we had to stop.

“But now we will increase farming and ensure that our co-op does very well in years to come.”