As Samoa marked International Women's Day on Tuesday, a local female farmer is encouraging others to take up farming as it offers many opportunities include income generation.

The theme for the International Women's Day celebrations this year revolved around the social, economic and political achievements of women. 

Hannah Forautonu, who has been a farmer for over five years, said she works hard as her livelihood in the agriculture sector enables her to take care of her four children.  

She is currently working together with Masoe Keil, who she gives thanks to for all the support, in a farming business where they look after cattle, poultry, pigs, sheep as well as vegetable farm including taro.

Working as a farmer, she says it is for a better future for her family as well as the whole country.

Mrs. Faraotonu pointed out that it is not only offices that offer good employment as good income can also be sourced from farming.

"Not only the fathers that can work and do this, the mothers can also become farmers rather than relying on others to bring something to take care of the family if the father of the family is not there," she said. 

"My advise to mothers is to keep farming – the kids will grow up healthy as well, and especially the family so that they would not feel hunger in the future."

In November last year two new reports two reports released by the Government showed that 94 per cent of Samoan households are still engaged in agriculture. 

This was highlighted during the official launch of the two reports Samoa Agriculture Census Report 2019 and the Food Security and Food Consumption in Samoa.

The agriculture census report from 2019 recorded 28,516 households with 94.3 per cent (26,900) of those are identified as agricultural households, meaning they grew some crops or raised some livestock.