‘Boosting rural economy growth is part of budget submissions’
Enhancing growth of the rural economy by prioritising a budget that creates opportunities for livelihood income is a focus for the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development.
Minister Sakiasi Ditoka said they had made relevant submissions in this regard to with the Ministry of Finance for the upcoming National Budget on June 30.
The Ministry has collaborated with the agriculture, and fisheries ministries that also help rural areas to see where the gaps were and where his ministry would fit in. Mr Ditoka said this was for funding allocation in programmes of income generation by assisting rural people with mechanisation support in agriculture.
Setting up collection centers for agriculture produce and distribution will be vital to generate cash from green produce.
He said they would provide help to people to access farming areas just to boost economic livelihood of rural dwellers.
These developments will cater for support to rural children in their education, community rural electrification projects and disaster management.
Such projects include the construction of evacuation centers to be initiated by the community after which the Government could aid on a needs-basis.
Mr Ditoka said climate change impeding effects had also affected income sources of rural Fijians so his ministry would work in union with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for continuation of seawall development.
Rural Housing
The rural housing programme remains a priority and submissions were made for consideration in the Budget.
“We will focus on this programme and how best we can facilitate it to heights where the most vulnerable in rural settings can be assisted.”