PM cites data gap on rural poverty

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has acknowledged a significant data gap, stating the government cannot precisely measure how many rural families have been lifted out of poverty since taking office. In a written response to Parliament, Rabuka explained that updated national poverty figures are unavailable, and any attempt to provide exact numbers would be premature. Fiji is currently relying on the 2019-2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey for its poverty data.

Responding to Opposition MP Vijay Nath, Rabuka deemed it methodologically unsound to quantify rural poverty reduction without verified data from the ongoing survey cycle. The most recent official figures indicated that approximately 29.9 percent of Fijians lived below the basic needs poverty line, with a disproportionate share, over 60 percent, residing in rural communities. This absence of current statistics complicates efforts to assess the real impact of recent government programs on rural households.

Despite the challenges posed by the data gap, the Prime Minister outlined a series of interventions targeting rural areas. These include infrastructure improvements, electrification projects, and enhanced access to water and roads. Furthermore, the government is expanding support for agriculture, fisheries, social protection schemes, and youth training programs designed to bolster household incomes and resilience.

A notable initiative is the Development Grant program, which has funded 164 rural projects between 2023 and 2026, benefiting over 24,000 people. These projects encompass fisheries cooperatives, rural crossings, and water supply systems for villages and schools. The Prime Minister also highlighted partnerships with development agencies to support rural enterprise development, access to finance, and skills training. The upcoming National Development Plan 2025-2029 is set to place a greater emphasis on rural and outer island development, including agricultural modernization and improved data systems for poverty tracking. Updated survey results will be presented to Parliament once completed.