Villagers living in Bua, Cakaudrove, Lomaiviti and Ra provinces have reported COVID-19 had minimal impact on their food security.
A study by the Wildlife Conservation Society interviewed 26 people from 13 districts in the four provinces to investigate the associated impacts of COVID-19 on coastal communities in rural Fiji.
“The majority of people (92.3 per cent) stated they had enough, more than enough or lots of food available to them through their own gardens and local fishing grounds.
“Despite some increases to village population numbers due to migration, everyone were aware of the local and customary practices and rules surrounding fishing, as well as national rules.”
Most people interviewed listed COVID-19 as a major event in their lives, the report stated.
“There is little to suggest that there has been large impacts to their food security or fisheries livelihoods.
“Cyclone Harold has affected crops, but for the majority, there has not been a large impact or change to their food security or livelihoods.”
