RAM Narayan, 72, has never purchased a single grain of rice in his life.
This is because he has never found the need, having planted the grain almost all his life.
Growing up on a 15-acre farm in Etatoko, Ba, Mr Narayan said he learnt at an early age the importance of food storage and security.
He said this while addressing a panel discussion hosted by the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises N Development (FRIEND) in Lautoka.
FRIEND celebrated World Non-communicable Disease Day last week at their office in Lautoka, hosting guests to home-grown food and juices.
Mr Narayan related he now owns five acres of the 15- acre piece of land he grew up on with his wife and two of his five children.
He was the oldest farmer at the panel discussion.
"I don't sell any of the rice that I harvest," he said.
"The only income our family receives is from the sugar cane I harvest every six months.
"This is enough to keep us comfortable.
"I also have a vegetable garden which is tended to every day and chickens — these are not sold but stored and consumed by our family, to keep us eating healthily and to be sure that we have spare in case of natural disasters."
He said another source of income for the family was through FRIEND, who often purchased seeds from the family for community programs.