The role of parents in ensuring discipline has become even more critical with the social problems of today.

So says Eletise Falepouvave, of Lalomauga.

The father of four is a farmer. He and his wife do the best to raise their family.

“I used to work before but the pay wasn’t good,” he said.

“When I started staying home, I tried to grow some bananas here around the house.”

“That’s when I realise I need to do more. So that’s when the banana patch started.”

Eletise enjoys working in his plantation and he really appreciates it because it not only provides healthy food for his children but also gives additional income to his family.

 “Trying to budget what we earn everyday is hard.”

But something is better than nothing.

“To me personally, becoming a farmer is becoming a millionaire. You get to hold money every day and with that money you can build a house and buy a car.” 

“I’ve been experiencing the life of a farmer and it’s worth it.” 

Back to his children, he believes it is very important to raise them right.

He said far too many children are allowed to roam around without any discipline.

He said this needs to change if Samoa is to overcome some of the social challenges of today.

Asked about the challenges of life, Eletise says their big issue is transportation.

“I don’t have a car.” 

“Sometimes it’s hard to take the fruits of my plantation to sell at the Apia market because its expensive to take them on the bus.”

“It’s also hard carrying them from far inland to the main road. That is only the problem here.”