$1.2m for projects since 2010
Since 2010, Government has invested $1.2 million in the Wood Utilisation Project. This was highlighted by the Minister for Fisheries and Forestries, Kalaveti Vodo while officiating at the Ministry of Forestry’s Cottage Industry event in Nasinu this week.
The forest subsidy initiative, through the Ministry of Forestry’s wood utilisation project has provided landowners an avenue to establish small forestry-related businesses. This initiative started in 2015.
Mr Vodo said the initiative had improved production and quality for existing small forestry-related businesses, purchasing tools, equipment, and machinery for valueadding required for a small forestry-related business and training.
He said the training component teached participants to create value-added products from harvesting and wood processing residues as an alternative resource to sustain them now and into the future.
Mr Vodo said this included mahogany landowners from Sote, Savu, and Naimasimasi villages in Vugalei, Tailevu whose land houses the Nukurua Forest Station. They are part of the skills training and empowerment of communities and individuals that the Ministry of Forestry is facilitating. “I trust and hope that you have found these trainings useful,” he said.
“With the exception of the pandemic period, the Ministry of Forestry’s annual budget includes the forest subsidy allocation.” Mr Vodo said the allocation demonstrated Government’s commitment to ensuring that its development work was reflected in the lives of the people and communities it served.