Man takes pride in his village’s koko work

By Aruna Lolani 17 June 2017, 12:00AM

Lolani Tala, of Tuana’i and Levi Saleimoa, understands the importance of everything the land has to offer.

He has been a farmer for as long as he can remember.

The 25-year-old has a koko plantation and a variety of vegetables he sell.

“I don’t know if you aware of the fact that Tuana’i is one of the villages in Samoa whose richness comes from the Samoan koko,” he said. 

“As you go through this road all the way to the end of this forestry road, all you see is Samoan cocoa trees. And that’s what our village is known for I believe.

Lolani hasn’t had any chance to work before anywhere else but the plantation.

“I’ve never done anything else besides cleaning the lands and planting something.

“So this is what I do for my mother, my sister and brother.”

Lolani’s father passed away and leaves Lolani and his siblings to take care of their mother.

“I don’t know what God’s plan is for us in the future but all I know is that this life is simple enough for me and it’s a good thing.

“How do I make a living for myself and my family? The answer is simple; I sell vegetables, koko Samoa, different crops.

“My brother and sister are both working, so you know we all have something to do and the saying goes; don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

“Maybe one day, life will require a lot of work from me and maybe that’s when I will take a look at the other options life is offering.

“But for now, I’m just a simple guy with a simple way of living.”

By Aruna Lolani 17 June 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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