Fiji

FIJI Post-Disaster Needs Assessment
trees to be replanted and begin producing again, and for fisheries catch to recover after fish return to coral reef areas. Thus,
rural household income and livelihoods are expected to remain depressed over a long period of time. Households may
need: support and food assistance for a longer period of time; to further diversify their activities; or retraining for other skills
so other income-generating activities can be undertaken. In addition, retraining in non-traditional and non-farm economies
would increase the resilience of women and girls against future disasters.
Subsistence agriculture is an important form of employment and income support for rural communities. The extensive
damage sustained by, and projected reduced agricultural output across, the sector will not only impact the economic
performance of the country but also has welfare implications on a large number of rural households. It will affect households’
ability to provide food security, nutrition and meet familial basic needs, resulting in economic hardship and eroded resilience
to future shocks.
From a gender perspective and in economic terms, men overall have sustained the largest damage and production losses
through the combined impact on the agriculture sector. Women hold a 33 percent share of the sector, 53 representing
approximately F$179 million of the total agricultural damage and losses. However, women’s losses have far reaching
implications at the household level as their subsistence activities and earnings contribute directly to nutritional security
and household economic welfare and foster human welfare. Reduced yield in food crops, and the potential for resulting
food insecurity, could put enormous pressure on women to provide food and nutrition. An analysis of the affected crops in
the Western Division shows that vegetables were the most affected, making up 24 percent of total crop losses. Damage
to vegetables will not only affect direct income to women (as they are largely responsible for cultivating vegetables), but
will also affect their ability to provide nutritious food within familial contexts. The loss of livestock will have an additional
detrimental impact on income, food security and nutrition. An analysis of livestock indicates that 71 percent of all dead
livestock include poultry (excluding commercial poultry), pigs and beehives. As smaller animals are usually under the control
of women, total livestock held by women is less than those held by men; nevertheless, smaller livestock are a key source
of protein and extra income. These livestock tend to be sold off first as a coping mechanism in times of hardship, further
eroding women’s asset base and leaving them even more vulnerable to future shocks.
Moreover, efforts to provide food security at the household level, particularly in the context of extensive damage to crops
and offshore fisheries, will increase the work burden for women in foraging for food and fishing in mangroves, leaving
them little time for other income-generating activities. Due to their productive role, women are dependent on accessible
natural resources for alternative income sources. Women particularly rely on non-timber forest products for mat and basket
weaving, which have also been heavily affected by the cyclone. All economic activities around voivoi (pandanus) have
reportedly come to a halt, and women dependent on this plant may be faced with dwindling livelihoods options at a time
when they need income the most, thus impeding their recovery.
In fact, the combination of key factors, including lower income, livelihood dependence on subsistence farming, mobility
constraints which limit availability and ability to look for other employment opportunities, and increased reproductive
responsibilities 54 may increase women’s economic hardship and economic dependence on their spouses.
Recovery and Reconstruction Needs for the Agriculture Sector (F$161 million)
The total value of recovery and reconstruction needs for the agriculture sector is estimated at F$161 million, of which F$65
million is required for recovery and F$96 million is required for reconstruction needs.
Implementation of this recovery strategy will maintain and strengthen inclusion, and incorporate clear identification and
participation of vulnerable groups, with a focus on gender and age where necessary. It will also include nutrition and food
security concerns through the medium and longer term.
Given the loss of income and major food access issues resulting from TC Winston, many small and subsistence farmers are
now facing significant hardship. The aims of the recovery and reconstruction efforts in the agriculture sector are primarily to
support the re-establishment of food security sources in affected communities, revive economic activity across the sector
and strengthen farmers’ capacity to be more resilient to similar future shocks in accordance with the principles of BBB. The
proposed recovery programmes specifically focus on facilitating access to good quality agricultural inputs, such as seeds,
tree seedlings and fingerlings, as well as supporting animal restocking. Reconstruction will be focused on rehabilitating
damaged infrastructure, such as roads, drainage administration buildings, equipment and machinery, and other damaged
farming assets.
The government instituted recovery programmes immediately after the cyclone in collaboration with the Food Security and
Livelihood Cluster (which includes NGOs and UN agencies). Short-, medium- and long-term post-cyclone recovery and
reconstruction needs have been identified, some of which are incorporated into the PDNA.
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ADB 2015: Fiji Country Gender Assessment.
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Women and girls in Fiji are responsible for more than 74 percent of household work compared to 26 percent for men.
Tropical Cyclone Winston, February 20, 2016
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