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Regional Development in the Fiji Islands.
- A case study of Lawaki Village, Tailevu North.Regional Development Seminar for JICA International Students in Japan, 2008.
By
Koliyavu Ratu Timoci Turagayawa
Photo: Anonymous
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Background
Fiji has more than 330 islands located in the theSouth Pacific Ocean: 18,333 km2 land area
Population of 931 741, population growth rateof 1.388% (2008)
35% below national poverty threshold (2004)
Tropical climate without extremes of cold or hot
Multiracial country - English is the officiallanguage
GDP - $FJD 5,500 per capita (2007) 396259JPY
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Fig 1. This figure shows the organizational structure of the Regional Development Ministryin Fiji. Source: Fiji Government Website
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Case Study- Small Grants Scheme: Lawaki Village -
Eastern Division.
Location: 1738'S, 17834'E 20.71km from nearest town
Village area 3.8105 km2.
Figure 2. Map locations of the Fiji Islands (right) and the local area (left)Source: Google Earth, Anonymous.
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Population and Age structure in Lawaki
Total population = 175 ; 40 Families
More than half of the population are middle aged(26-75years)
About a third of them are students (7-25yrs)
Pre-school aged children and older aged peopleaccounted for the rest of the population (7 %).
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INDUSTRY & STAPLES
Photos: SPRH (USP), Fiji Government Website, JB, Anonymous
Tourism
Forestry
Agriculture
Subsistence farming and fishing
Fruits and vegetables
Root crops
Sugarcane
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Utilization of Resources
Photos: IAS (USP), QVSOB Website, Anonymous
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Village Farming Report, 2008Total Crop Percentage
44%21%
8% 4%
5%
2% 0%
2%
1%3%
4%
1%
5%
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
89
10
11
12
13
Figure 3.Total crop percentages for the last year. Refer to presentation
summary for individual listings as numbered in this figure. Source:
Lawaki Village Committee Report, 2008.
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Aid/Incentives/Subsidy
Small scale framing subsidies (equipments, animals,cash incentives).
Rural housing programs - village school (Japan Aid),a village dispensary (Nursing Project) and donation ofschool boat (for Qoma Island students).
Village Hall and Drinking water
Setting up utilities such as drinking water systems,
electricity and upgrading of major roads and villagefootpaths (partly funded).
Scholarships for tertiary studies (regional to nationalscale).
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Major Challenges
Rising fuel/food prices----- increase in poverty
Poor Organization structure
Communal ownership of land
Lack of technological skills
Rapid increases in population
Photo : Fiji Government Website
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National Challenges
Poor governance & corruption
Rising food / fuel prices
Food security and poverty
Poor organization /implementation strategies of development
Lack of funding and investments in national services sectors
Lack of technological capacities, knowledge and skills
Regular changes of government / policies
Politically volatile status at present
Photo: Anonymous
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Government Role
Main machinery- proposals, policies,funding, implementers, monitoring.
Initiator- PPPs, Regionalism, Internationalinitiatives
Fund distributor and follow ups
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Private Sector Role
Main Engine innovations / facilitators for
economic growth & development
Exploiting marketing opportunities
World class standards of services
Policies and decision makers state
partnership
Decentralization / Convergence Policies
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Thank You
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Acknowledgements
Government of Fiji
Government of Japan
Japan International Cooperation Agency
Regional Economic DevelopmentInitiatives, Japan
Lawaki Village Committee, Fiji
Korovou Initiative, Fiji
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