regional development in fiji_jica seminar 080728

8/14/2019 Regional Development in Fiji_JICA Seminar 080728

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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

regional development in fiji_jica seminar 080728

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