Being your own boss attracts Atana to farming life

By Aruna Lolani 20 September 2017, 12:00AM

If what you do helps your family to survive, that is more than enough.

Such is the philosophy of 41-year-old Atana Taiulu, of Nonoa Saleimoa, about life and work.

“I’m a farmer and it’s good enough for me because it earns me money,” he told the Village Voice.

“I get enough money to put food on the table for my family especially my parents.”

According to Atana, the village is the best place to train as opposed to a gym.

“Being surrounded by the many lands and the ocean; inspires you and motivates you to work hard everyday.

“The money we get from work is enough to buy little things that we need like sugar and other things like that.”

Atana told Village Voice he has been a farmer for 20 years.

“I remember that when I left school and started my plantation. I’ve been making this my business for quite a while now and I know that this path belongs to me,

 “Now I have my own little stall in front of my house in which I use to sell crops and vegetables.”

One of the best things is that he is his own boss.

 “The good thing about working like this; is that you can do it whenever you want to because you are your own boss. Even when I’m not selling; I still get people on my doorstep asking me if I’m selling maybe cucumbers, cabbages or any of the things I usually sell,” he said.

“And I think the difference between a company working employee and a farmer; is that working employees go early to work and try not to be late because someone else is paying for their time.

“But when it comes to a farmer; if you are your own boss then you pretty much can do whatever you like.”

Atana has so much passion in the work that he does which is why he continues doing it today.

“With this kind of work; it’s not really something that you can make or force someone to love it. This is something they need to try it out on their own to see if they like it or dislike it.

“But for me; it’s enough because it has given me freedom and I think people should all be thinking about it.

“It doesn’t matter how much work you put into it, it’s about how you value it and never abandoning it.

“Having your own plantation is a blessing and it’s time we must realize that.”

By Aruna Lolani 20 September 2017, 12:00AM

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