Free food and less headaches, man vouches for value of plantation

By Ulimasao Fata 20 January 2018, 12:00AM

People living off the plantation believe it’s the best way to deal with the high cost of living today.

One of them is a young father of two, Tamaleaoa Talanoa Lilo, 25, from the village of Pata Falelatai.

Mr. Lilo says life is hard for him and his family, especially when there’s only one person who works.

“Life is really hard nowadays here in Samoa because the cost of living is really high right now.”

“One hard thing for us at our house is that we have only one person who works to provide for our family.”

“For Samoa today, if you don’t work to put food on the table for your family, your family will struggle.”

Mr. Lilo was on his way home from his plantation when the Village Voice team met him yesterday morning.

Mr. Lilo says his only focus right now because he is unemployed is the plantation.

“This is the only thing I do every day; I just have to come here to the plantation and work.”

“This is my contribution to our family.”

“It will be easier if I had a job, but then I don’t, so the only choice for me is just the plantation and I enjoy it so much.”

“I am also enjoying this work here because I will be heading to New Zealand next month under the seasonal workers scheme, and my work here relates so much from what I will be doing in New Zealand.”

Mr. Lilo also mentioned that whatever he gets from his plantation is for subsistence use.

“I don’t sell anything at all to get money.”

“But for me, I am happy that we get to survive from the plantation and it helps us save money from buying a packet of rice, which is so expensive today.”

Mr. Lilo added plantation is where we get our free food.

“As far as I know, every family in Samoa has their own plantation to work on and plant any crop.”

“But to me, I believe this is free food for us, as long as we keep working on it and plant something on it.”

By Ulimasao Fata 20 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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