On November 6, 1997, The Fiji Times reported on how Dr Laisa Naivalulevu took up gardening after retirement.
What started as a hobby grew into a passion, and turned into a small but thriving business. Dr Naivalulevu ventured into the business by first selling ginger and heleconia around Suva.
In 1996, she was one of the first “outgrowers” of orchids to supply South Sea Orchids at Saweni near Lautoka. She then started an anthurium nursery for the same market.
Her daughter and husband were also involved in what was rapidly becoming a profitable family business.
“This is what our outgrower project is all about,” Eileen Burness of South Seas said.
“When we realised what kind of demand there was for cut flowers, we knew this would be ideal for women to generate their own income from their homes for only a few hours work a day.
“We started with orchids, giving the growers all the information and technical advice to set up their nursery and grow the flowers and helping to arrange loans to build the nurseries and buy the plants.
“Once the plants flower, we will buy everything they produce and buy them on wholesale price.
“Eventually, we hope enough women will participate that we can start exporting flowers as well,” she added.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Fiji-New Zealand Business Council, Solo Makasiale, who opened a workshop for 50 women interested in becoming outgrowers for anthuriums, said this was a great opportunity for them.
“We didn’t anticipate that the flowers — and the business — would attract the involvement of so many husbands and sons, but are thrilled that they have,” he said.
“Our next move is to involve women in villages and settlements who can raise the flowers as a women’s group or co-operative income generating project.
“The initiative has been started by South Sea Orchids and must spread, particularly to villages.
“The commercial value of cut flowers is unlimited.
“The local market is huge and when that is filled, there is the export market. In Australia, an anthurium can command $8. “The potential for floriculture is huge.”
Another workshop participant, Loata Karavaki, said she loved flowers and was planning to grow the anthuriums as retirement income.
As the principal of the Fiji College of Agriculture and a former agriculture extension officer, Mrs Karavaki said she wanted to work with flowers.
“Women have so much time on their hands and this is an ideal way for them to be productive for themselves and their families,” she said.
“Flower production is suited to both urban and rural areas and has great potential as a new industry for Fiji and the college could facilitate this.”
The outgrowers needed to invest between $7000 and $10,000 for their nursery and plants.
Eighteen months after planting the first orchid, outgrowers were beginning to get flowers, but the anthurium growers were expecting flowers nine months after planting.
The anthuriums were being exported from the Netherlands, and had more vibrant colours than the local varieties.
They were also disease free. Each plant had five to 10 blooms a year and sold for between 30 and 70 cents depending on their size.
“The added advantage is that the flowers are self reproducing and the ladies can continually increase their stock without having to buy more plants.” Mrs Burness said.
“Each lady will start with 1000 to 2000 plants in a range of colours.”
The orchids were sold for $1 a spray, and investors with a few thousand plants could expect to earn $20,000 a year when they were in full production.
The exotic flowers were in high demand by hotels because they lasted for some weeks. But Mrs Burness said the industry would only succeed if it was more than hobby farming.
“This has to run as a business, with investment and commitment to do it properly,” she said.
“Although growing and caring for the flowers are fun for the ladies, a hobby for them, the bottom line is professionalism and a good sense.
“The plants need to be nurtured to produce their best for the lowest cost input and to be out and packaged according to best practices.
“Then the women will earn the income they deserve and will see the difference to their family budget.” Mrs Burness added.
