THE undulating mountain ranges that loom over Nadelei, Tavua, hold many memories for Ioane Nakuta, 70.
Growing up, these rolling mountain hills served as a play ground and a path that crossed into other provinces.
Mr Nakuta shared he would walk from Nadelei which is about an hour’s drive past Vatukoula, and Tavua Town crossing over the hinterlands towards Navala Village in the highlands of Ba to board at school. Navala is famous for its interior mountainous landscape.
It is home to Fiji’s highest mountain — Mount Tomaniivi or Mount Victoria.
Getting to the village involves a two and a half-hour drive through Lautoka City, Ba Town and the beautiful valleys and picturesque hillsides before you can reach the village.
But in Mr Nakuta’s time, there were no roads.
They only had mountain paths.
“My family originally came from Koroboya Village in Ba. We moved to Nadelei because my elders wanted to pursue better farming prospects. I have maternal links to Nadelei Village,” he shared.
Sitting under the shade of a mango tree at Nadelei, Mr Nakuta marvelled at the developments that have taken place over the years.
“Back then the main source of living was peanuts, rice, watermelon, cassava and yams which were grown in abundance.
“Whenever, we harvested it, we would cross the mountains right to Nadarivatu to transport it using horses because there was no road.
“When I finished school then developments began. The road came, then land were leased out for sugarcane farming.
“At the time, nothing was here, the land was vacant. Sugar cane was then introduced.
“My grandfather, my father and I worked as sugarcane farmers but now it’s hard to make ends meet because there’s no mill, and high transport costs.
“We have to go right to Ba to get our sugar cane crushed. Many farmers have moved out of here or have ventured into dairy farming to make ends meet,” he added.
Mr Nakuta says it’s the relationship among the farmers that have eased things.
Both iTaukei and Indian descent farmers work together as a group to help harvest each others’ farms.
“At the end of the day, we sit to enjoy a meal together or a bowl of kava and watch the beautiful sunset go down into those mountains,” he said with a smile.
