New rural policy promises better services, jobs and quality of life for villagers 

Villagers across Fiji could soon see improved access to services, new income opportunities and a better quality of life as Government begins consultations on the country’s first-ever National Rural Development Policy (NRDP). 

The policy, now being shaped through nationwide consultations, aims to address long-standing challenges faced by rural and maritime communities, including limited access to health and education services, poor infrastructure, high transport costs and a lack of economic opportunities. 

Consultations officially began yesterday at the Eastern Division National Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Workshop, attended by Government agencies, state-owned enterprises, private sector representatives, civil society groups, development partners and community leaders from Rotuma, Lau, Lomaiviti and Kadavu. 

Manager Planning at the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Soko Tuima, said the policy is designed to ensure villagers directly benefit from development decisions. 

“For the first time in decades, people in rural communities are being given a voice to say what development should look like in their villages,” Mr Tuima said. 

He said the NRDP was developed following a review of the Integrated Rural Development Framework established in 2009, which found that existing systems no longer meet the changing needs of villagers. 

“The review showed that while there were programmes in place, they have not kept pace with what our people actually need to improve their daily lives,” he said. 

Mr Tuima said one of the main goals of the policy is to create real economic opportunities in villages so families do not feel forced to migrate to towns and cities. 

“We want villagers to experience the same quality of life found in urban areas—better services, stronger livelihoods and safer, more resilient communities,” he said. 

Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, said villagers face ongoing challenges that directly affect their livelihoods. 

“Our people in rural and maritime areas deal with isolation, high transportation costs, limited access to services and increasing climate risks,” Mr Ditoka said. 

He said the new policy aims to put communities at the centre of decision-making while improving coordination across Government and ensuring investments reach the village level. 

“This is about making sure no village or island is left behind simply because of distance,” Mr Ditoka said. 

The two-day consultation will gather input from villagers and community leaders to help shape a people-centred, inclusive and climate-resilient rural development policy that responds directly to the needs of Fiji’s rural population.