Just try your best in life

By Aruna Lolani 06 July 2017, 12:00AM

Life doesn’t require that we be the best, only that we try to be the best. And that is how Toetu Maifala o Fasito’o uta has sworn to live his life. Mr. Maifala was on his way back from the plantation yesterday when the Village Voice team met him.

“I came to get some taro to make some fa’alifu for the family,” he told the Village Voice. 

“I was also doing some work here with my two children, and I’m thankful that they’re now old enough to lend a hand with this kind of work.”

Mr.Maifala is 69 years old and managing the plantation is all he has ever known.

“This is my life and even though it’s hard, it makes me happy because it’s something that keeps me on my toes.

“I have more than three acres of plantation and I work on it every day to develop it for the sake of my children in the future. 

“I value everything that I have right now in my plantation.”

According to Mr. Maifala, he values it for a lot of reasons.

“First of all, it helps the family when it comes to food and money. 

“It’s very good for us for our health and income and what I mean by that, is that nowadays you see a lot of commercials on TV emphasizing healthy food for people and the plantation is where you get healthy food from, mostly I think.

“Another thing is, we can use it to help others if they need help.

“You know someone might come to you looking for food, you can offer them taro, bananas and anything edible from the lands.

“But I think for me, the most important thing is that the plantation is an easy way to get food for your family. 

“It’s good for money too sometimes, but I know that there are so many people who are selling crops so you can’t always be sure that you will earn money every day. 

“For me, I try my best not to look at the fact that there are a whole lot of competitors selling  agricultural products these days, but I just try my best to find ways for people to want to buy my basket of taros; even if it means selling them at a very cheap or low price.

“Because what’s more important, is just to at least make some money from this for the family.”

By Aruna Lolani 06 July 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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