A rural business, transformed with the right tools
“A proud moment for me was seeing our first full harvest after using the rototiller. The crops were healthier and more uniform than before. Delivering those fresh bundles to customers and hearing their positive feedback reminded us how far we’ve come and how the assistance from Business Link Pacific through Business Assistance Fiji (BAF) helped us get here.”
These were the words of Adi Rauga Seru, owner of Vatuniveivuke Enterprise, a mixed-crop farm in the highlands of Tailevu, in Dawasamu, Fiji.
Through BLP approved advisor Ashwin Kumar from Elite Bookkeepers & Associates, Seru received BLP’s subsidised accounting support and professional financial assistance. This support enabled her to successfully apply for the BLP Small Grant Facility.
With the grant, the mother of five purchased a rototiller and a water tank, investments that transformed her family’s farming operations.
What once took weeks of manual land preparation now takes half the time, allowing them to plan and plant more efficiently.
“Our biggest challenge was manual land preparation and unreliable water supply. These slowed down planting and affected crop growth. The grant helped overcome both issues by giving us the right tools to prepare the land quickly and access water when needed,” she said.
What began as a small family initiative to create a stable income and use their land productively has now grown into a thriving mixed-farming enterprise. The family chose mixed crops for sustainability vegetables provide weekly income, while root crops offer reliable monthly returns.
Their dedication is rooted in a love for farming and a commitment to supplying fresh, organic, chemical-free produce to their community.
“The grant allowed us to expand and maintain consistent production. With reliable irrigation and faster land preparation, we can now meet market demand more regularly and with better-quality crops,” Seru explained.
Her advice to other agriculture MSMEs: stay grounded, stay committed, and don’t give up.
“Every journey comes with challenges, but what matters is your foundation. Vatuniveivuke means ‘The Lord is my Rock,’ and that has guided me throughout my business journey. Believe in what you have, stay consistent, keep improving, and don’t hesitate to apply for support. Assistance like the one given by BAF and BLP truly make a difference.”
Adi Rauga Seru encourages fellow MSMEs to make use of the opportunities available from BLP through BAF, including subsidies for advisory services, grants, business diagnostics, and climate adaptation support.
If you are an MSME owner looking to grow your business, improve your systems, or strengthen your resilience, reach out to BLP today. BLP can facilitate access to business advisory services and financial support.
To start your journey with BLP, you can self-assess your needs by using the free online tools available to help small- and medium-sized businesses diagnose areas in their businesses that an advisor could improve.
The first step can be the online Business Health Check. You can also check your business’s resilience to respond to crises or climate change challenges on the Business Continuity Planner and the Climate Action Sensor.
If you prefer to meet a local BLP representative in person to discuss your business, get in touch with BLP local partners to arrange a face-to-face Diagnostic.