Over 20 people attended a jam, pickle and chutney workshop in Poutasi village last Saturday hosted by the Samoa Women’s Association of Growers (SWAG).

Poutasi Committee Representative Pouliotaua Meleisea told the Samoa Observer on Monday that she hoped the training assisted village growers to learn more about making products like jam, pickle and chutney which can be produced locally.

“It is a good program to learn and experience new ways to create more products for more money and better development by using our own reliable resources, which are available around the island and in our own backyard,” she said.

“It encourages us and also empowers us women by expanding our knowledge of ways to make businesses to earn money to support our families and develop our communities.

“It is a very important program to refresh our strength as we are facing challenges and we appreciate the help of the SWAG.”

The training is part of the“Siamufest 2021”, which is a SWAG initiative where training is done on how to turn perishable produce into hygienically preserved products, which can be sold all-year-round and thus help increase household incomes.

According to Pouliotaua, the workshop’s program started 9am to 2pm and included three men. All participants received certificates of participation at the end of the workshop.

SWAG President Shelley Burich, in a statement issued on the training workshop, said Samoa’s contracting economy continues to impact village-based women growers.

She said one of the outcomes of the training that was done last Saturday is the potential of increasing their weekly income.

“Taking the bounty of everyday produce and transforming it into a preserved product that is delicious and nutritious is one way to help women increase their weekly income and begin testing the waters as individual business owners,” said Ms Burich.

Siamufest 2021, Siamufest is funded by the U.S. Embassy Apia Public Diplomacy Small Grants Scheme, will address the low rates of employment with high cost of living which places a heavy burden on many Samoan families and more so on young unemployed women. 

The need for low investment/high profit small businesses that can be managed at home can help increase monthly income dramatically. Sharing the art of pickling, preserving, and jam-making and how to sell these products to new and online markets is a useful way for SWAG to help reduce financial burden.