BY JOY OFASIA
In the little village of Naoasi in east Kwara’ae, Malaita Province, Aroma Leote’e is proud to share her story of hope, hard work, and growth as a rural farmer.
In 2022, Aroma started a small piggery with the dream of helping her family achieve bigger goals. She and her husband, Leo, worked hand in hand, supporting each other every day.
“When my husband and I started feeding pigs, we only started with two pigs – one female and one male. Later, the female had nine piglets, and from there, the number just kept increasing,” Aroma said with a smile.
As the piggery grew, the couple sold some pigs and let others reproduce. Over time, their hard work paid off.
“We were so happy because we managed to complete our three-bedroom permanent house in our village. I also started a new canteen last year,” Aroma told SOLOMON WOMEN.
The mother of three explained that she chose to set up her canteen in Afekwara, a village about an hour’s walk from her home. “The reason I put my canteen in that village is because of the location. It is in the center between schools and a road junction connecting villages. It is always busy, and many people pass by,” she said.
Besides the house and canteen, Aroma and Leo were able to pay for their children’s school fees, an important milestone for the family.
Like many rural farmers, Aroma faces challenges. “I face difficulties such as pig feed expenses. We have to travel to Auki to buy feed, which costs $100 for transport one way and $20 for freight. As a rural farmer, depending on the little we earn from the village, this is a big challenge,” she explained.
Despite these struggles, Aroma and her husband continue caring for their piggery, aiming for bigger achievements in the future.
The hardworking farmer also called on local leaders for support. “My call to our leaders is to help rural farmers. Many of us have big dreams, and we depend on these small farms to grow and achieve our goals,” she said.
Aroma and her family are proud of what they have accomplished and remain hopeful. From just two pigs to a thriving piggery, a new canteen, and a permanent house, their story is one of determination, family support, and dreams coming true.
