Women in rural areas are known for their skills and talents in making use of natural resources to earn a living for their families.
An inspiring story is unveiled in Driti Village in the Tikina of Dama where women have taken the lead role in managing six fish ponds that is a source of income and most importantly supplements the protein intake villagers desperately lack in their daily diet.
Established in 2002 by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Women, Secretariat of the Pacific Community and University of the South Pacific Marine Studies the project was handed over to Driti women. Known as the Seatura Women’s Club Aquaculture project the two main objectives met by the initiative are:
- Create source of income for the women
- sustain their nutrition level
According to Seatura Women’s Club leader Mrs Narieta Leba about 40 women benefit from the project and the revenue earned is deposited into a fixed savings account while portion of the money is used to meet miscellaneous expenses.
Apart from fish ponds the women also have a bee hive project and simultaneously the income earned is deposited into the bank account.
“Most of the money is kept in the bank for education purposes of the children in the village and in total from the fish project and the honey the women have managed to save a total of $26,000 in the savings account. During the harvest we are able to earn $1000 to $2000 a month,” said Leba.
She said the fish was supplied to the nearby villages and Bua School at reasonable prices and there were plans to expand the market to Labasa Town.
Mr Luke Ramolo, Community Advisor for the Driti Village said that men in the village actually assisted the women in day to day management of the fish ponds while a group had been formed to look after the bee hive project.
“These two projects are the best and easiest to earn a living. It requires team work and commitment as a community to realize the value of the project to their families and work hard toward sustaining it,” Mr Ramolo said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation will continue to provide advice and monitor the progress of Seatura Women’s Club Aquaculture project and also see possible ways to broaden and replicate the projects of this nature to other parts of Fiji in not only empowering the rural women but helping them to walk out of poverty.
Narieta Leba (left), Women Leader for Seatura Women's Club, Bua, along with Mere Kalesi at Driti Village Fish Pond.
Fishery Project looked after by the women of Driti Village.
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