A first of its kind women in fishers’ market day hosted by the Women in Fisheries Network Fiji (WIFN) at Colo-i-Suva on Saturday was aimed at providing a market space for rural women.
Despite the heavy downpour women from Rewa, Tailevu, Ra and Nadroga showed up to sell their produce.
“We work with women from different provinces and through the workshops that we carry out we were able to pinpoint what their major challenges were – not having access to markets,” said WIFN coordinator Adi Alani Tuivucilevu.
Ms Tuivucilevu said the contribution of women fishers to the economy and society was undocumented and underappreciated.
“When we do our work or carry out workshops we try to empower and collaborate with these women and basically try to make their lives easier in the long run.
“Market days as such will at least allow us to get the buyers in instead of these women going to the market – that in itself is a success for us.
“Being able to provide relief for these women for just a day is much better than getting nothing done.”
Amelia Liku from Rewa took the opportunity to sell her freshly caught moci (shrimp).
“Selling moci has not only helped me feed my family, it has also allowed me to provide for my extended family,” she said.
“I am not that good in reading or writing but through this I am able to rake in money and that for me is an achievement in itself.
“I believe his market day will help me build my contacts for the near future.”
Ms Tuivucilevu added that they hope to host much bigger and better women in fishers’ market day events in the future.
