Working in the plantation is not that different from working for a company.

Both are ways to earn a living and that’s all that matters.

So says Pisu So, of Faleasiu and Leulumoega.

The 45-year-old used to work for a company before, but after contributing three years of his life to the business world; he decided to resign and start working in his family’s plantation.

“I know a lot of people are seeking jobs,” he tells the Village Voice.

“I know that there are not many jobs out there, so you must think I’m crazy to leave the job I had, but to me there’s really no difference in working in the plantation and working in a company.” 

“I mean if you know you can earn money from your work; then that’s good because having no money and literally nothing is a pain.”

“We all know that you earn enough from selling taro, bananas and anything else from the plantation.” 

“You sell a taro and banana; that’s making money. But in my case; I use this to provide food for my family because when it comes to rice and other products from shops; I don’t really get a full stomach from it. So I always prefer to work these lands for our food. That’s the real nature of Samoan people; they get by with real Samoan food from the land and the sea.”

“I don’t have anything against working because it has its perks when it comes to investing in your N.P.F.; and A.C.C. but the good thing about working on your own in your own land is that you can rest whenever you want which is something we can’t really do at work.”

“We even have a patch of Samoan koko and we do sell it sometimes for $50 a bucket.”

He says money is right here in our lands; we just need to understand how to work it.

“It used to be challenging back then because we didn’t have a ride but now that we have one; it’s easy for us to go about in doing our work.”

Pisu is a father of four children; one is currently attending school f whilse the others stay  at home.