HONEY MONEY; START SMALL THINK BIG

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BY GEORGINA KEKEA

LOCATED in the Western Solomons about 31 kilometers South West of Gizo lies the island of Simbo. Famous in historical days for its head-hunter tribe, Simbo has long since ended its unpleasant tradition and is now known as the first organic island in the Solomon Islands.


“This time we see that our fruits are more healthy and plentiful and the plants are greener and we have a lot of good fruits and vegetables which our children enjoy”.

Esther Tali Suti is a honey producer and thanks to the honey bees, Simbo is now an organic island with the bees playing a big role in this. 

Recently Esther was a recipient for the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) Women in Micro-business awards.

Esther Suti on the left with other award winners
 Mrs. Suti says the road has not been easy. With five children and the eldest son being deaf, the road was tough but she was determined to bring the best for her family and community.


“I have passion and I have faith. I see the challenges which women are faced with. I was the first female taxi driver in Gizo. Times have changed so much from before where women are hardly being seen on the streets after hours. Nowadays, women toil till night just like the bees to make ends meet”, Mrs. Suti said.


Last year in 2017, with the initiative from Esther, Simbo Island was declared an organic island by National Association for Sustainable Agriculture in Australia. 


Esther says honey is a lucrative business and she started hers in 2005. Not one to keep things to herself, she also engaged women from her community in this lucrative business and since then, they have continued to grow. Currently she says they have over 200 bee hives plus in 2017 alone, they raised $170 thousand as income from the honey business with monies going back to the women of the communities. 


“What drove me to bring women in on this honey business is because I’ve seen and felt the need for women earning income and how passionate women can be in such projects and to excel in whatever they do to achieve their aims and goals. And sharing is very important as one can only feel successful when one felt that you have made others successful as well”, Mrs. Suti said.

 She said despite having a child with disability, she never gave up and seek solace and comfort in her God. She said she thanked God every day for her children though at times often cried especially for her disabled child. She said her eldest son is deaf but she never gave up on him. She says it is God’s will and through God’s will, she will persevere. Through life skill trainings and from Esther’s guidance and her husband’s support, their eldest son has been able to do things for himself. He even runs a second hand shop.


“My work is inclusive. Not inclusive academically but practical wise. Like now, am still assisting my son to get the knowledge and skills he needs. He is now making bee hive boxes for me, as well as selling those boxes for other honey producers. He is 24 years old”, Mrs. Suti said.


Suti counts herself blest and thanked CBSI for this initiative in recognizing women in micro-business. The award given by CBSI is in recognition of the hard work of women in rural areas in businesses and community support. The award this year is the second one to be organized by CBSI.


In her advice to women wishing to succeed in businesses, Mrs. Suti says women must not forget their husband’s support.


“Women we must work together with our husbands. We will only be successful once we recognize the support our husbands give to us. So we must also thank our husbands for their support because without their support we will not be successful”. 


Esther Tali Suti is the third ranked winner for this year’s award out of five award recipients. She was presented with a certificate and a cash amount for her prize by CBSI. 

“Start small but think big”, she said.


ENDS///

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