Laman Manarani is fulfilling a unique need on the island of Taha’a in French Polynesia.
The Latter-day Saint provides fresh lettuce on the Pacific island, which lacks many fresh vegetables.
The fisherman turned farmer uses the waste produced by farmed fish in aquaculture to supply nutrients to his Batavia lettuce grown hydroponically, or in water, which in turn purifies the water. Using this unique food production system known as aquaponics, he can produce a head of lettuce in just four weeks.
Not only is Laman Manarani filling a need in the community, but he is also supporting his family.
Elder Peter F. Meurs, General Authority Seventy and member of the Pacific Area presidency, and his wife, Sister Maxine Meurs, recently toured the Manarani family’s aquaponics farm. In an article on the Church’s Pacific Newsroom, Elder Meurs summarized the Manaranis’ experience: “Laman took a self-reliance course and followed through with what the course teaches students to do, which is to look for what is needed. In Taha’a, Laman saw a need for fresh produce, especially lettuce. Laman now provides lettuce to his community and supermarkets in other areas. Everyone is blessed.”
When reflecting on the success of his growing business, Laman Manarani told the Church’s Pacific Newsroom, “My journey has not been easy, but thanks to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and putting Him at the center of our lives, our family has been blessed.”
When Laman Manarani and his wife, Laetitia Manarani, were first married, they lived on Taha’a Island until Laetitia Manarani lost her job as a teacher. After fasting and praying, the couple felt prompted to move to Tahiti, another French Polynesian island roughly 150 miles away.
They obeyed the prompting and felt immediately blessed. Laetitia Manarani passed her teacher’s exam and after completing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ self-reliance course “Starting and Growing My Business,” Laman Manarani developed a fish shop and fish trailer business in Arue.
Then COVID-19 came to the islands, and Laman Manarani’s businesses began to suffer. Once again, Laman and Laetitia Manarani went to the Lord for direction. “We felt deep down that the Lord wanted us to go back to Taha’a,” Laman Manarani recalled. “Even if it was difficult to let go of our businesses in Tahiti, [we trusted the Lord] again.”
Before returning to Taha’a, the couple took classes with another Latter-day Saint on aquaponics. “I also did a lot of personal research on the internet,” Laman Manarani said. “Thanks to the course on self-reliance, I developed a habit of learning and have sought to deepen my knowledge in my field.”
Using resources found on the island, the Manaranis built their aquaponics farm from the ground up. “I continued to do a lot of research to solve daily problems that I encountered. … There have been obstacles at every stage, but the Lord has always been trusted,” Laman Manarani said.
Today, Laman Manarani delivers his crop to the local market one to three times a week. With his business thriving, he plans to expand and start growing other vegetables. Still, he said, he sometimes marvels at how much everything he plants produces. “I see God’s hand in all these blessings. I pay my tithing and I see the windows of heaven pouring out on my family.”
As an area presidency, Elder Meurs said, the president and counselors have been concerned about employment opportunities and increasing self-reliance among members of the Church. “The Lord blessed us by allowing my wife and I to meet Laman and see what he has accomplished with his aquaponics farm. It teaches us that this kind of thinking is possible. We could have many people producing food in different ways that would benefit the community and help families sustain themselves.”
Sister Meurs added, “Laman is such a hard worker and is raising his family with vision and example with his very supportive wife. It is inspiring.”
For his part, Laman Manarani attributes his success to the Lord, participating in a self-reliance course provided by the Church and working hard. “Everything depends on our ability to listen, act and trust Him. When you serve the Lord, He will do His part.”
