Tala Leka delivery service targets rural-urban drift

A new grocery delivery service aims to reduce rural-to-urban migration by bringing essential services directly to remote communities.

Unravel Viti director Taraiasi Wara said lack of access to essential services has been pushing rural families to move to towns and cities.

“That’s probably one of the contributing factors where rural communities have been migrating to the urban areas because of access to these essential services,” Mr Wara said today at the signing of a partnership agreement with NewWorld IGA.

“That’s where we came up with the idea of Tala Leka because we believe that we already have in-house drivers with experience driving in these rural communities.”

The Tala Leka Delivery Service will allow rural residents to order groceries online and have them delivered safely to their villages, eliminating the need for long, costly trips to urban centers.

Mr Wara said the idea came from desktop research conducted by Unravel Viti, which identified gaps in e-commerce services reaching rural areas.

“We saw from that research that some of the recommendations that were made was our e-commerce platform is not reaching rural areas,” he said.

The service also promotes environmental sustainability by reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions from frequent trips to town.

“By creating a connected delivery network through Tala Leka, we are not only making life easier for rural families, but also reducing emissions, saving time and promoting sustainable logistics,” Mr Wara said.

The seven-month pilot programme begins in Naitasiri and Tailevu, with plans to expand nationwide if successful.

Customers can shop on www.newworld.com.fj and select Tala Leka delivery at checkout.

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