IN an effort to empower revenue generation in rural areas, government is encouraging villagers to venture into seaweed farming.
Provincial administrator Rewa Ravindra Narayan said seaweed farming was not hard and also had a wider market for exports.
Mr Narayan made the comments while visiting the government-funded seaweed farming project in Vutia district in Rewa. He said the seaweed project empowered women to earn a sustainable living for themselves was not only popular for its taste, but had a stable market as well.
"Fiji has a stable market for seaweed which can fetch good (income)," Mr Narayan said.
He said the revenue that could be generated from seaweed farming looks very lucrative now.
Referring to the seaweed project in Vutia, he said the villagers through their export to China were able to earn close to $3000 per month.
"The project in this village empowers women and the money they collect is used in the development of the village," Mr Narayan said.
He said seaweed farming was a classic example that had improved the livelihood of people in the village.
Meanwhile, villager and seaweed farmer Vasiti Koroi said through the sale of seaweed, she had been able to send her two children to school and help her family.
Ms Koroi said women who stayed home in the rural areas should involve themselves in such activities because it had a lot of benefit.