06 June 2022: Over the last four years Pepe Tofilau and her husband have been developing their
four (4) acres block in Aleisa into a living food bank with mixed varieties of root crops, vegetables
and fruits.
So far they have utilised two (2) acres of their land to grow bananas, taro, cassava, coconut peanuts,
cocoa, corn, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, and they are currently adding more fruits and vegetable
varieties.
Living far inland of Aleisa with poor road structure and access to water, Pepe says their main
expense is water irrigation for the maintenance of their mixed crops.
Recently as a member of the Faleasi’u Womens’ Associations she received assistance with a 5,000 Ltr
water tank through the Pacific Island Rural and Agriculture Stimulus Facility (PIRAS) which seeks to
help support sustainable food production, improve nutrition and strengthen inclusive local value
chains.
The IFAD and Australian Government funded PIRAS Project currently being implemented by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries aims to support food productions, improve nutrition and to
strengthen inclusive local value chains.
The Project comes at a crucial time to complement the Ministry’s ongoing efforts in creating new
and sustaining livelihoods for those severely impacted by the effects of the pandemic, increasing
import substitution activities while also strengthening food and nutrition security.
“We have a mixed-crop farm and we usually irrigate them daily” said Pepe. “ We have spent up to
SAT $300 plus on buying water hoses that reach far off into our land to water the cocoa and the rest
of our crops. With this water tank we received through the PIRAS Project, we will be able to save
money and easily water our crops.”
Although Pepe made a little income from selling some excess produce, the purpose of their farm was
to help sustain her family and loved ones during the challenges brought on by the impact of the
pandemic with rising living costs and high unemployment.
Pepe is fondly referred to as “Mama” in her neighbourhood because of her generosity in giving away
food crops to her family, friends and small community of tight-knit neighbours living off the grid, far
inland of Aleisa.

“I depend on farming to live” said Pepe “We don’t go to the market, we give our harvest of fruit and
vegetables to those we know that need it.”
During the most intense part of the COVID-19 lockdowns this year, Pepe said their main set back on
the farm was the inability to care for their taro plantation due to the restriction of movements
however she also reported an abundant harvest of fruits and vegetables which were distributed to
families and friends near and far who were unable to earn an income during the State of Emergency
restrictions.
“Our first set back when COVID-19hit was hard on our first lot of taro we were not able to nurture
and take care of them, plus the problem of people taking from our land when we could not come
maintain our land due to restrictions” Pepe explained.
“During the lockdowns we had heaps of food and because there are only two of us we ended up
giving away food to help other families like our lovely neighbors and our families. We also take all
the excess food to our families and friends when we take a trip to Savaii.”
Despite the challenges of living and developing in the rural farming areas, Pepe and her husband
care deeply for the health and wellbeing of their community, which is why they continue to take an
inclusive approach, leaving no neighbour behind as they grow their farming initiatives.
“Now that we have finished fencing our two acre land with the help of the Samoa Agriculture and
Fisheries Productivity and Marketing Project (SAFPROM) we have advised our neighbours that they
can use the other end of our land to grow their food to feed their families,” she said. “With proper
fencing, we will now be able to commercialise our farm by keeping out pigs and reducing incidences
of thieving. This will also mean that our neighbours crops will be protected so everybody wins.”