ROTUMA BIO-FUEL PROJECT
REPORT ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BASELINE ASSESSMENT, ROTUMA
Environment Consultants Fiji
January 2012
Environment Consultants Fiji
Social Economic Assessment – Rotuma Bio-fuel Project
REPORT ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BASELINE ASSESSMENT OF THE BIO-FUEL PROJECT, ROTUMA
Report prepared for: Department of Energy P.O. Box 2493 Government Buildings Suva, Fiji
By: Environment Consultants Fiji 259 Prince’s Rd., Suva
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Social Economic Assessment – Rotuma Bio-fuel Project
…………………………………….. Dick Watling Ph.D. Principal.
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction ...... 1
1.1 Objectives of Study ...... 1
1.2 Study Team ...... 2
1.2 The study area ...... 3
1.3 Method ...... 5
2 Findings – background and social setting ...... 6
2.1 Local Population ...... 6
2.2 Administration ...... 7
2.3 Local Infrastructure ...... 7
2.3.1 Government services and amenities ...... 7
2.3.2 Schools ...... 8
2.3.1 Access and Transportation...... 8
2.3.2 Water Supply ...... 9
2.3.3 Power Supply ...... 9
2.3.4 Waste disposal ...... 9
2.3.5 Telecommunications ...... 9
3 Survey Findings - Socio-economic Status ...... 9
3.1 Summary of the sample group ...... 9
3.2 Education ...... 13
3.3 Health services ...... 16
3.4 Employment and Occupations ...... 19
3.5 Income and cost of living ...... 19
3.6 Food staples ...... 27
3.7 Survey Findings - Living conditions ...... 27
4 Survey Findings - Agricultural Production and Use ...... 33
4.1 General Agricultural Activity ...... 33
4.2 Current Coconut-related Agricultural Activity ...... 35
5 Conclusion ...... 43
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Summary of Consultation Meetings held ...... 6
Table 2. Population of Rotuma by District and ethnicity according to the 2007 Census. Source Bureau of Statistics...... 6
Table 3. Schools on Rotuma and their attendance roll in 2011 ...... 8
Table 4. Summary of size and gender of sample group ...... 10
Table 5. Education of sample population from each district by gender ...... 14
Table 6. Response to the question: How do the children in your household travel to school? ...... 16
Table 7. Response to the questions how long does it take for your children to travel to school ..... 16
Table 8. Response to the question: How frequently do you visit a hospital/health centre over the course of a year? (Either as a patient or accompanying someone else) ...... 17
Table 9. Response to the question: For what purpose do you usually visit the hospital/health centre?...... 17
Table 10. Answer to the question: In the transportation you use, how long does it take you to travel to the nearest hospital/health centre? ...... 18
Table 11. Answer to the question: In the transportation you use, how much does it cost to travel to the nearest hospital/health centre? ...... 19
Table 12. Main Occupations in each District ...... 19
Table 13. Average weekly household income for each district ...... 20
Table 14. Top 5 sources of income for Pepjei District ...... 21
Table 15. Top 5 sources of income for Oinafa district ...... 21
Table 16. Top 5 sources of income for Juju district ...... 21
Table 17. Top 5 sources of income for Malhaha district ...... 21
Table 18. Top 5 sources of income for Itutiu district ...... 22
Table 19 Top 5 sources of income for Noatau district ...... 22
Table 20. Top 5 sources of income for Itumuta district ...... 22
Table 21. Top 5 household expenses for Pepjei District ...... 23
Table 22. Top 5 household expenses for Oinafa District...... 23
Table 23. Top 5 household expenses for Juju District ...... 23
Table 24. Top 5 household expenses for Malhaha District ...... 23 Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd Page iv
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Table 25. Top 5 household expenses for Itutiu District ...... 24
Table 26. Top 5 household expenses for Noatau District ...... 24
Table 27. Top 5 household expenses for Itumuta District ...... 24
Table 28. Response to the question: Do you personally save money? ...... 25
Table 29. Response to the question: If you need money urgently, how do you address this? ...... 26
Table 30. Response to the question: Does your household send any remittance to family members and/or relatives who live elsewhere in Fiji or overseas? ...... 26
Table 31 Three main food staples identified by respondents from each district ...... 27
Table 32. Response to the question: What are your walls made of? ...... 27
Table 33. Response to the question: What is your roofing made of? ...... 28
Table 34. Response to the question: How do you provide lighting in your house? ...... 28
Table 35. Means of sewage disposal by village ...... 29
Table 36. Response to the question: How do you make a phone call when you need to? ...... 29
Table 37. Response to the question: What is your main means of transport...... 30
Table 38. Types of Fuel used by households (what the fuel is used for/average number of days per week/amount spent per week) ...... 31
Table 39. Response to the question: How many hours a day do you or members of your household use energy in your house ...... 31
Table 40. Household appliances by district ...... 32
Table 41. Response to the question: What types of social and cultural commitments does your household spend money on? ...... 33
Table 42. Response to the question: which would be the top 3 crops that you would like to grow the most (if money and time were not an issue)? ...... 34
Table 43. Crops that respondents claim to currently have under cultivation ...... 35
Table 44. Response to the question: do you and/or the member(s) of your household harvest ‘niuvarvar’...... 36
Table 45. Response to the question: is any of the ‘niuvarvar’ that your household harvests for sale? ...... 36
Table 46. Response to the question: do you and/or the member(s) of your household harvest ‘mature coconuts’ ...... 37
Table 47. Response to the question: is any of the ‘mature coconut’ that your household harvests for sale? ...... 37
Table 48. Response to the question How do you dry copra? ...... 38
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Table 49. Response to the question: do you and/or the member(s) of your household extract coconut oil? ...... 38
Table 50. Response to the question: is any of the oil that your household extracts for sale? ...... 39
Table 51. Response to the question: What do you do with the coconut oil that your household produces? ...... 40
Table 52. Transportation arrangements for niuvarvar, mature coconut, copra and coconut oil ..... 41
Table 53. Response to the question Approximately how much of the coconut you harvest (including copra and coconut oil) do you sell?...... 42
Table 54. Response to the question: What proportion of your annual household income comes from coconut production? ...... 43
Table 55. Response to the question: What varieties of coconut trees have you and/or member(s) of your household planted? ...... 43
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Location of Rotuma ...... 1
Figure 2. Rotuma ...... 3
Figure 3. Map of Rotuma’s districts. Source: Bureau of Statistics ...... 7
Figure 4. Age cohort for Pepjei District...... 10
Figure 5. Age cohort for Oinafa Disctrict ...... 11
Figure 6. Age cohort for Juju District ...... 11
Figure 7. Age cohort for Malhaha District ...... 12
Figure 8. Age cohort for Itutiu District ...... 12
Figure 9. Age cohort for Noatau District ...... 12
Figure 10. Age cohort for Itumuta District ...... 13
Figure 11. Graph showing percentage of sample group education in each category (pie chart of percentages) ...... 15
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1. Terms of Reference Attachment 2. Survey Form
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
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DoE Department of Energy
EA Executive Agent
ECF Environment Consultants Fiji
GEF Global Environment Facility kV Kilovault
SEFP Sustainable Energy Financing Project
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1 Introduction
The Sustainable Energy Financing Project (SEFP) is a World Bank initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The funding allocation predominantly comprises a risk sharing fund that guarantees loans made by financial institutions for renewable energy technologies. The World Bank is responsible for the supervision of SEFP in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
In each country the project is implemented by an Executive Agent (EA) and the risk sharing fund is managed by a Fund Manager. The Department of Energy (DoE) is the Executive Agency for SEFP in Fiji while ANZ Bank is acting as the Fund Manager. The overall aim of the SEFP is to significantly increase the adoption and use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in Fiji by delivering a package of financial incentives through approved participating financial institutions to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and initiatives.
Two such projects have been approved in Fiji, one on Cicia Island in the Lau Group and one on Rotuma Island. The projects consist of the establishment of a coconut fuel production plants on each island to enable the community to convert one of their main crops (coconut) into an affordable and renewable form of fuel. The bio-fuel plants have been constructed and are in the early stages of operation.
Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd. (ECF) was contracted to undertake a baseline socio-economic assessment of the communities that are the intended beneficiaries of the bio-fuel project. This report documents the baseline assessment for the beneficiary community on Rotuma.
Rotuma is located 646 kilometres (Suva to Ahau) north of the Fiji group (Figure 1). Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a minority within the population of Fiji.
Figure 1. Location of Rotuma
1.1 Objectives of Study
The study was undertaken with the following objectives:
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1. Conduct action-research on socio economic status of the: • Community, • Individual households, and • Individual villagers.
2. Determine percentage of current community income generated from processing of coconut oil into: • Bio-fuel, • Cooking oil, • Soap, and • Body lotion.
3. Conduct action-research on accessible utilities including: • Infrastructure, • Water, • Roads, • Telecommunications, and • Sports facilities.
1.2 Study Team
The overall project was supervised by Dr Dick Watling, Principal of Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd (ECF) with the support of Ms Nicola Thomson (social research method design; supervision of data processing and interpretation of data) and Kolinio Moce (consultation team leader). The consultations and survey of the community was undertaken by a team supervised by Mr Moce including two experienced interviewers from Viti Levu and twelve local residents on Rotuma Island. The team members were: • Tausie Fasala, Retired School Teacher; • Mr. Freddy Hesaie, Retired Resort Manager; • Epeli Taukave, Fiji National University Student; • Ms Betty Inia, Rotuma Island Youth Coordinator; • Mrs Francis Faktaufon, Retired School Teacher; • Mr. Wilson Thomas, Retired Post Master; • Misau Onisimo, Retired School Teacher; • Arone Mausio, Retired School Teacher; • Makereta Maueli, Retired School Teacher; • Mr. Kamoe H. Wesele, Retired Police Inspector; • Mr. Akariva Vesavesa, Senior Agriculture Extension Officer, Rotuma; • Waisea Narema, Agriculture Officer, Rotuma.
Data processing of the completed questionnaires was undertaken by Ms Ashiana Hassan BSc., Ms Videi Koroduadua and Ms Teresia Daurewa.
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1.2 The study area
The study area included the seven districts in Rotuma which encompass 24 villages and a few settlements. The districts are Itumuta, Noatau, Oinafa, Juju, Pepjei, Malaha'a and Itumuta. The study are also included the government station which is located at Ahau (Refer Figure 2).
Figure 2. Rotuma Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd Page 3
Social Economic Assessment – Rotuma Bio-fuel Project
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1.3 Method
The survey form that was provided by the client was trailed and revised by the ECF team in consultation with the client. The final version of the survey is included in Attachment 2.
The survey team leader consulted with the Rotuma Affairs Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office and with the Rotuma District Officer to seek their assistance in arranging meetings with the villages and to request in any data that they held that had relevance to the study.
Upon arriving in Rotuma, meetings were held with Government Department representatives on the island, namely the District Officer, the Chairman of the Rotuma Council, and Rotuma-based representatives of the following government departments: Department of Roads, Ministry of Health, Department of Agriculture, Bio-Security Authority of Fiji, and the Water Authority of Fiji.
Meetings were also held with the Deputy Chairman and the Manager of the Rotuma Bio-fuel Company Limited which has been recently established as a result of the SEFP Project (refer Section 1). With the village leaders’ approval, the team then used the questionnaire (Refer Attachment 2) to survey the population of each village. The team aimed to sample at least 10% of the population but exceeded this aim by sampling between 31% and 54% of the populations of each village (refer (Table 4).
Table 1 provides a summary of the meetings that were held in terms of timing and location.
Date (2011) Meeting with Meeting about
July 5 Rotuma District Officer Inform the D.O. on proposed study
September 22 SAO- Eastern/Rotuma Meeting
October 27 Suva Rotuma Affairs Unit
October 28 Travel to Rotuma Welcome by Rotuma Council
October 28 Office of District Officer Training Enumerators
October 28 All Districts Questionnaire interview
October 29 All Districts Questionnaire interview
October29 Chairman, Rotuma Coun. Meeting/Interview
October 30 All District Questionnaire interview
October 30 Ahau Data checking
October 31 Itutiu Questionnaire interview
October 31 Ahau Data checking
October 31 Ahau Data entry
November 1 Malaha’a/Noatau Questionnaire interview
November 1 Ahau Present to Rotuma Council
November 1 Agriculture Office Meeting/Interview
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November 1 Department of Roads Meeting/Interview
November 2 Juju/Pepjei Questionnaire interview
November 2 PWD/Electrical Meeting/Interview
November 2 Rotuma Medical Officer Meeting/Interview
November 3 Oinafa Questionnaire
November 3 Water Authority of Fiji Meeting/Interview
November 3 Rotuma Bio-fuel Co. Meeting/Interview
November 3 Station Officer –Police Force Meeting/Interview
December 15 Vuda Piggery – Mr. Simon Cole Meeting – By product purchaser
Table 1. Summary of Consultation Meetings held
2 Findings – background and social setting
2.1 Local Population
The population of Rotuma Island according to 2007 census data provided by the Bureau of Statistics is summarised in Table 2. With the exception of 89 Fijians and 20 Indo-Fijians, the population in Rotuman (95% of the population). Almost the entire population resides in the villages and lead a mostly subsistence lifestyle. Other industries on the island are: agro-forestry, animal husbandry (pigs, cows and goats) and exporting agricultural produce to Tuvalu (dalo, tavioka).
Total Total Fijian Indian Rotuman Other District population Households Population Population Population Population
Itumuta 116 22 2 - 114 -
Itutiu 740 162 51 20 636 33
Juju 257 55 6 - 250 1
Malhaha 241 52 13 - 226 2
Noatau 281 65 8 - 273 -
Oinafa 222 64 8 - 210 4
Pepjei 145 28 1 - 143 1
Total 2,002 448 89 20 1,852 41 (Rotuma)
Table 2. Population of Rotuma by District and ethnicity according to the 2007 Census. Source Bureau of Statistics.
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Source: Bureau of Statistics
Figure 3. Map of Rotuma’s districts. Source: Bureau of Statistics
2.2 Administration
As described in Section 2.1 Rotuma is divided into seven autonomous districts, each with its own headman or chief (Gagaj’es Itu’u). Each district hosts a number of villages, namely:
1. Noatau District Villages: Fekeioko, Maragte'u, Faf'iasina, Matu'ea, 'Ut'utu, Kalvaka 2. Oinafa District Villages: Oinafa, Lopta, Paptea 3. Pepjei District Villages: 'Ujia, Uạnheta, Avave 4. Juju District Villages: Tuại, Haga, Juju 5. Itu’muta District Villages: Maftoa, Lopo 6. Itu’ti’u District Villages: Savlei, Lạu, Feavại, Tuạ'koi, Motusa, Hapmak, Losa, Fapufa 7. Malha’a District Villages: Pepheua, 'Else'e, 'Elsio
Itu’ti’u District also hosts the Ahạu Government Station.
The districts are divided into subgroupings of households (ho'aga) that function as work groups under the leadership of a subchief (gagaj 'es ho'aga). All district headmen and the majority of ho'aga headmen are titled. The district chiefs and elected district representatives make up the Rotuma Island Council.
Rotuma Island is administered from the Prime Minister’s Office under the Rotuma Affairs Unit which is headed by the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Ministers Office.
2.3 Local Infrastructure
Following is a description of the infrastructure and services available on Rotuma. 2.3.1 Government services and amenities Ahau is the trading centre for Rotuma Island, it hosts a supermarket. All government departments are located in Ahau. These Government Departments are:
• The Rotuma Council Complex; • Department of Regional Development, represented by District Officer, Mr Etika Taukave; • The Fiji Police Force, represented by Station Officer, Inspector Semi Waqavonovono; Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd Page 7
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• Ministry of Health Hospital and Public Health Office, represented by Dr E. Fesaitu; • Ministry of Primary Industries Agriculture Extension Office; • Depart of National Roads Depot, represented by Mr. James Rabonu; • Bio-security Authority Office and treatment complex, represented by Ms Loraine Doughty; • Water Authority of Fiji Office, represented by Tominiko Mausio; • Telecom Fiji Office, represented by Tevita Lako; • Post Fiji Office, represented by Post Master Amoe Fiu; and • The office of the Fiji Customs Authority.
Rotuma Hospital is also located at Ahau. The Hospital also operates an ambulance service that can be accessed by any village through telephone. The hospital is staffed by a doctor, dentist, health inspector and five nurses.
There are no government-sponsored sporting facilities on Rotuma Island. Each village have their own sporting ground, which is used for other sports like rugby, cricket, netball, and volleyball.
A bio-fuel plant that has also recently been constructed in Ahau as part of the SEFP project (Refer Section 1). The Biofuel Mill has been constructed with the support of the Department of Energy and is currently operating. Some fuel for use on Rotuma Island is ordered from Suva and arrives via inter-island shipping. 2.3.2 Schools There are four Primary Schools and a Secondary School in Rotuma: Motusa Primary School, Christ the King Primary School, Paptea Primary School, Malha’a Primary School and Rotuma High School. Table 3 summarises the attendance at each school.
School Roll
Rotuma Primary School 115
Christ the King Primary School 117
Paptea Primary School 40
Malha’a Primary School 101
Rotuma High School 191
Total 564
Source: Officer of the District Officer
Table 3. Schools on Rotuma and their attendance roll in 2011 2.3.1 Access and Transportation The island can be accessed by plane (2 hours from Suva), boat (36 hours from Suva). A well- maintained dirt/sand road circumnavigates the island and provides road access to all the villages. There is also a road that transects the island that provides access to inland farms. Some of the steeper parts of the road are cemented.
There is no public transport, however, the Catholic Church operates a three-tonne truck to transport children to and from school. There are two 60-seater buses on the island that are current
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Social Economic Assessment – Rotuma Bio-fuel Project impounded at the Ahau Government Station due to expired vehicle registration. There are also 14 trucks and 21 utility vans which are privately owned. 2.3.2 Water Supply Water supply in Rotuma is managed by the newly formed Water Authority of Fiji. The Water Authority of Fiji representative in Rotuma is Tomniko Mausio. Water Authority supply water to every village and settlement in Rotuma. They are operating three bore holes which are operated by three submersible water pumps. The three water pumps operate 24 hours per day. Each pump is run by a 13 Kva diesel generator and uses 60 litters of diesel fuel per day. This calculates to 180 litters per day. Each household is supplied water from the water authority of Fiji by pipeline and pays an average bill of $10.00 per month.
2.3.3 Power Supply The Public Works Department operates two 150 kV Stanford Diesel generators. Each generator operates for nine hours per day. Power is supplied from here to the government station including Rotuma High School. The Post Office also has Solar Power back up. According to the District Officer, there are also 13 generators in the community. Of the 13, 8 community generators and 2 individual family generators are running on bio-fuel.
The Post Office also has Solar Power back up.
2.3.4 Waste disposal There is no central waste disposal site in Rotuma. The Public Health unit has ordered that each house should have its own solid waste disposal and burning pit.
There is no central sewage or grey water system on Rotuma, households are connected to privately-maintained septic tanks.
2.3.5 Telecommunications Telecom Fiji Limited has a satellite phone connection on Rotuma. This has enabled the people of Rotuma to access a pre-pay landline service provided by Telecom Fiji Limited referred to as Easy- Tel. Digicel mobile phones are able to get reception on the island.
3 Survey Findings - Socio-economic Status
3.1 Summary of the sample group
The sample group mostly identified themselves as mostly Rotumans with the exception of two Fijians, one Indo-Fijian and one Tuvaluan.
There was an average of 4 people per household with a range of 2 to 4 people.
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Number of Total population Total population of Households sampled (percentage village (Source: District Male Female sampled of total population) Bureau of Statistics)
Pepjei 40 39 18 79 (54%) 145
Oinafa 45 44 23 89 (40%) 222
Juju 53 45 25 98 (38%) 257
Malhaha 42 32 18 74 (31%) 241
Itutiu 183 174 78 357 (48%) 740
Noatau 51 51 28 102 (36%) 281
Itumuta 24 25 12 49 (42%) 116
Table 4. Summary of size and gender of sample group
The age structure of each district is presented in Figures 4 to 10. There is a general pattern of a population dominated by middle-aged adults and school-age children as would be expected for a remote rural community where young adults tend to migrate to cities for employment and the populations starts to drop off beyond the age of 66. However, there are also some notable differences in the structures for each district. For instance: Malhha and Oinfa Districts had proportionately low school-age populations. Also Itumuta and Itutiu Districts had a high population of 26 to 35 years old, whereas the other districts showed a drop in population in this age group.
>75 66-75 56-65 46-55 36-45
26-35 Age(years 18-25 14-17 6-13 0-5
0 5 10 15 No. in sample group Figure 4. Age cohort for Pepjei District.
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>75 66-75 56-65 46-55 36-45
26-35 Age 18-25 14-17 6-13 0-5
0 5 10 15 20 25 No. in sample group Figure 5. Age cohort for Oinafa Disctrict
>75 66-75 56-65 46-55 36-45 26-35
Age 18-25 14-17 6-13 0-5 0 5 10 15 20 25 No. in sample group Figure 6. Age cohort for Juju District
>75 66-75 56-65 46-55 36-45 26-35 Age (years) Age 18-25 14-17 6-13 0-5
0 5 10 15 No. in sample
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Figure 7. Age cohort for Malhaha District
>75 66-75 56-65 46-55 36-45 26-35 18-25Age 14-17 6-13 0-5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 No. in sample group
Figure 8. Age cohort for Itutiu District
>75 66-75 56-65 46-55 36-45 26-35
18-25Age 14-17 6-13 0-5
0 5 10 15 20 25 No. in sample
Figure 9. Age cohort for Noatau District
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>75 66-75 56-65 46-55 36-45 26-35
Age 18-25 14-17 6-13 0-5
0 2 4 6 8 10 No. in sample group
Figure 10. Age cohort for Itumuta District
3.2 Education
Table 5 and Figure 11 summarises the education levels attained by the sample group. As can be expected from the age structure of the community described above, much of the population is still in school or yet to come of age for schooling. The majority of the adult population completed secondary school (30.5%) whereas a slightly smaller group only completed primary (25%). 4.5% of the sample group did not complete primary or never attended school. 1.5% of the population have completed tertiary qualifications.
In terms of gender there was not a significant difference in terms of education levels. Although significantly more males have completed tertiary qualification albeit this is comparison between 9 individual males compared to 6 individual females.
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Total 1. Pepjei 2. Oinafa 3. Juju 4. Malhaha 5. Itutiu 6. Noatau 7. Itumuta
M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F
Never 2 (<1%) 3 (1%) 0 1 (2%) 0 1 (2%) 2 (4%) 1 (2%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 attended school
Did not 13 (3%) 17 (4%) 0 4 0 2 (5%) 2 (4%) 3 (7%) 2 (5%) 1( 3%) 5 (3%) 2 (1%) 3 (6%) 3 (6%) 1 (5%) 2 (8%) complete (10%) primary
Completed 113 (26%) 100 (24%) 17 16 11 9 15 10 9 7 32 29 25 24 4 5 Primary (43%) (41%) (24%) (21%) (28%) (22%) (21%) (22%) (18%) (17%) (49%) (47%) (19%) (21%)
Completed 135 (31%) 123 (30%) 4 1 (3%) 16 13 14 14 17 16 66 66 8 3 10 10 Secondary (10%) (36%) (30%) (26%) (31%) (41%) (50%) (36%) (38%) (16%) (6%) (48%) (42%)
Diploma 9 (2%) 6 (1%) 2 (5%) 1 (3%) 1 (2%) 1 (2%) 0 0 0 0 4 (2%) 2 (1%) 2 (4%) 2 (4%) 0 0 Degree
Still in 124 (29%) 119 (29%) 14 13 13 13 16 13 8 6 60 55 12 14 1 (5%) 5 school (35%) (33%) (29%) (30%) (30%) (29%) (19%) (19%) (31%) (32%) (24%) (27%) (21%)
Minor 39 (9%) 41 (10%) 3 (8%) 3 (8%) 4 (9%) 5 4 (8%) 4 (9%) 6 2 (6%) 16 20 1 (2%) 5 5 2 (8%) (11%) (14%) (9%) (12%) (10%) (24%)
Total 435 409 40 39 45 44 53 45 42 32 183 174 51 51 21 24
Table 5. Education of sample population from each district by gender
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2% 1% 4%
9% 26% Completed Primary Completed Secondary Still in school Minor Degree/Diploma Never Attended School 30% Did Not Complete Primary
29%
Figure 11. Graph showing percentage of sample group education in each category (pie chart of percentages)
As Table 6 summarises, children’s mode of getting to school varies between districts. In Pepjei, Itutiu and Itumuta most children go to school via community truck. In Oinafa and Noatau they are driven in someone’s car (not belonging to their household). In Malhaha they walk and in Juju half walk and half go by community truck. A small number of children in Juju, Malhaha and Noatau go by bicycle. More than anything, this variance reflects the different distances that the school children need to travel each day depending on the location of the schools in each district. Table 7 confirms that it takes the majority of children on the island between 5 minutes and one hour to travel to school each day. Although in Malhaha district it takes most children less than 5 minutes to walk to school. None of the children in the households smapled take more than one hour to get to school.
District Number of respondents (percentage of sample group)
Community Driven in Walk Bicycle Drive own Truck someone’s household car car
1. Pepjei 11 (69%) 0 5 (31%) 0 0
2. Oinafa 4 (33%) 6 (50%) 2 (17%) 0 0
3. Juju 9 (47%) 0 9 (47%) 1 (5%) 0
4. Malhaha 0 0 11 (79%) 3 (21%) 0
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5. Itutiu 28 (47%) 15 (25%) 16 (27%) 0 0
6. Noatau 2 (11%) 10 (56%) 2 (11%) 3 (17%) 1 (6%)
7. Itumuta 4 (80%) 1 (20%) 0 0 0
Total 58 32 45 7 1
Table 6. Response to the question: How do the children in your household travel to school?
42 (35%) of the respondents stated that there was no cost for their children to travel to school. For the 65% of children in the sample group that use transport to get to school, the average cost stated for children to get to school each day was $2.18 with range between $1 and $5.
Number of respondents (percentage of sample group)
District Under 5 minutes 5 to 30 minutes 30 minutes to 1 Over 1 hour hour
1. Pepjei 0 1 (8%) 11 (92%) 0
2. Oinafa 0 7 (64%) 4 (37%) 0
3. Juju 1 (7%) 6 (40%) 8 (53%) 0
4. Malhaha 8 (62%) 4 (31%) 1 (8%) 0
5. Itutiu 14 (25%) 34 (62%) 7 (13%) 0
6. Noatau 0 10 (67%) 5 (33%) 0
7. Itumuta 0 1 (20%) 4 (80%) 0
Total 23 63 40 0
Table 7. Response to the questions how long does it take for your children to travel to school
3.3 Health services
Most of the districts on Rotuma had a similar response to question of how frequently they visit a hospital or health centre, most go every couple of months (Table 8). However, in the case of Pepjei and Oinafa districts most of the sample group only go once a year. Most in Noatau go every half year.
When asked what their reason for travelling to the Health Centre typically was 67% travel there for a general health check-up, 20% go there for vaccines and check-ups for their children, 12% of households stated that they would only make this journey for emergencies. Only 2 individuals in the sample group stated that they usually visit the hospital for pregnancy services (Table 9).
District Number of respondents (percentage of sample group)
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More than Every couple Every half year Yearly Never once a week of months
1. Pepjei 0 6 1 8 3
2. Oinafa 0 1 1 20 1
3. Juju 0 14 5 4 2
4. Malhaha 0 8 5 5 0
5. Itutiu 0 57 11 5 5
6. Noatau 0 10 12 5 1
7. Itumuta 0 12 0 0 0
Total 0 108 35 47 12
Table 8. Response to the question: How frequently do you visit a hospital/health centre over the course of a year? (Either as a patient or accompanying someone else)
Number of respondents (percentage of sample group)
District Check-up for Check-up or Only for Pregnancy myself vaccines for emergencies Services children
1. Pepjei 12 0 4 0
2. Oinafa 22 4 2 1
3. Juju 22 4 8 0
4. Malhaha 16 1 1 0
5. Itutiu 52 29 12 0
6. Noatau 24 4 1 1
7. Itumuta 8 4 0 0
Total 156 (67%) 46 (20%) 28 (12%) 2 (1%)
Table 9. Response to the question: For what purpose do you usually visit the hospital/health centre?
When asked what mode of transport they used to travel to the nearest health centre:
• 32% stated that they are driven in someone else’s car,
• 31% stated that they walk,
• 14 % stated that they use the community truck/carrier,
• 14% stated that they use the motorbike,
• 5% stated that they take the bicycle, Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd Page 17
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• 2% stated that they drive their own car, and
• 2% stated that they use the ambulance service.
As Table 10 summarises, most of the village residents in Oinafa, Juju, Malhaha and Itutiu Districts take between 5 and 30 minutes to get to the Health Centre. Whereas, villages in Pepjei, Noatau and Itumuta Districts mostly take 30 minutes to 1 hour to get there. Only one individual in the whole sample group stated that it takes more than 1 hour to get there. The majority of respondents in all districts spend between $1 and $5 on their transport to the medical centre (Table 11).
Number of respondents (percentage of sample group)
District Under 5 minutes 5 to 30 minutes 30 minutes to 1 Over 1 hour hour
1. Pepjei 0 3 (16.67%) 15 (83.33%) 0
2. Oinafa 0 14 (60.87%) 9 (39.13%) 0
3. Juju 0 13 (52%) 12 (48%) 0
4. Malhaha 1 (5.56%) 14 (77.78%) 3 (16.67%) 0
5. Itutiu 21 (26.92%) 42 (53.85%) 14 (17.95%) 1 (1.28%)
6. Noatau 1 (3.70%) 3 (11.11%) 23 (85.19%) 0
7. Itumuta 0 2 (16.67%) 10 (83.33%) 0
Total 23 91 86 1
Table 10. Answer to the question: In the transportation you use, how long does it take you to travel to the nearest hospital/health centre?
Number of respondents (percentage of sample group)
District Less than $1 $1 to $5 $5 to $10 More than $10
1. Pepjei 12 (66.67%) 6 (33.33%) 0 0
2. Oinafa 7 (30.43%) 6 (26.09%) 4 (17.39%) 6 (26.09%)
3. Juju 8 (32%) 9 (36%) 3 (12%) 5 (20%)
4. Malhaha 10 (55.56%) 1 (5.56%) 3 (16.67%) 4 (22.22%)
5. Itutiu 62 (79.49%) 6 (7.69%) 8 (10.26%) 2 (2.56%)
6. Noatau 4 (14.29%) 13 (46.43%) 6 (21.43%) 5 (17.86%)
7. Itumuta 8 (66.66%) 2 (16.67%) 2 (16.67%) 0
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Total 111 43 26 22
Table 11. Answer to the question: In the transportation you use, how much does it cost to travel to the nearest hospital/health centre?
3.4 Employment and Occupations
In keeping with the high proportion of youths in the sample group, 29% of the group that were willing to identify their occupation stated that they were a student (Table 13). 25% of the group identified themselves as farmers who were mostly male. 26% of the sample group stated domestic duties as their occupation who were mostly women. Correspondingly all the respondents with the exception of 53 identified themselves as unemployed. Although 17 members of this group were retirees. Those that were in employment described their occupations as:
• 28 labourers,
• 12 small business operators (self-employed),
• 10 civil servants, and
• 3 teachers.
Occupation Total Percentage Pepjei Oinafa Juju Malhaha Itutiu Noatau Itumuta of sample group
Students 248 29% 27 26 30 15 113 25 12
Domestic Duties 221 26% 19 24 24 24 87 28 15
Farmer 213 25% 21 24 28 20 79 31 10
Labourers 28 3% 0 3 0 2 21 5 1
Retirees 22 3% 3 1 1 1 7 4 1
Self-employed 12 1% 1 0 2 2 6 2 0
Civil Servants 10 1% 1 0 0 1 6 1 2
School Teacher 3 0% 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
Table 12. Main Occupations in each District
3.5 Income and cost of living
The average weekly income of the households in the sample group that stated their income was FJD 98.93 The highest household income recorded was FJD 700.00, the lowest was FJD 2.50 per week. The average estimated weekly expenses of the sample group was FJD 23.04 with a range of FJD 200 to FJD 0.70 per week (Table 14).
District Average weekly Max Min Average weekly Max Min
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household income household expenses
Pepjei $193.86 $470.00 $25.00 $23.76 $150 $1.25
Oinafa $54.44 $180 $2.50 $20.36 $120 $1
Juju $58.99 $200 $10 $18.91 $150 $1
Malhaha $111.64 $700 $3 $33.04 $200 $2
Itutiu $83.59 $325 $10 $28.12 $200 $0.70
Noatau $39 $260 $8 $15.08 $110 $1
Itumuta $151 $399 $49 $22 $100 $2.70
Total: $98.93 $700.00 $2.50 $23.04 $200 $0.70
Table 13. Average weekly household income for each district
According to the sample group, the main source of income in all of the districts is copra (Tables 15 to 21). In most districts the second main source of income is remittances with the exception of Pepjei Distract where the second main source of income is grog. The third to firth main source of income varied somewhat between districts but constituted a combination of: Root crops (dalo, kumala, cassava), paid employment, and farming (livestock and vegetable). Notably Malhaha district listed Virgin Coconut oil as their fourth main source of income and Itutiu district listed Coconut (as distinct from Copra) as their fifth main source of income. Noatau district was along in listing selling voivoi and voivoi matts as well as fishing in their top five sources of income.
It is interesting to note that average income form these sources varied depending on the district with Malhaha district making notably more income from copra than the other districts and Noatau ad Itumutu making notably less.
Main sources of household Average income per week income from this source
Copra $74
Grog $80
Dalo $20
Remittances $19.50
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Pension $39
Table 14. Top 5 sources of income for Pepjei District
Main sources of household Average income per week income from this source
Copra $70.17
Remittance $45.36
Dalo $18.33
Cassava $9.17
Paid employment (labourer) $30
Table 15. Top 5 sources of income for Oinafa district
Main sources of household Average income per week income from this source
Copra $70.38
Remittance $62.50
Dalo $28.75
Kumala $12.50
Paid employment $84
Table 16. Top 5 sources of income for Juju district
Main sources of household Average income per week income from this source
Copra $133.33
Remittance $50.00
Kumala $27.50
Virgin Oil $112
Paid employment $24.50
Table 17. Top 5 sources of income for Malhaha district
Main sources of household Average income per week income from this source
Copra $83.45
Remittance $56.96
Paid employment $69.20
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Farming, livestock $23.33
Coconut $60
Table 18. Top 5 sources of income for Itutiu district
Main sources of household Average income per week income from this source
Copra $40.62
Remittance $29.29
Weaving Mats $16.25
Voivoi $10
Fishing $15
Table 19 Top 5 sources of income for Noatau district
Main sources of household Average income per week income from this source
Copra $57
Remittance $48.57
Paid employment $160
Dalo $10
Vegetables $30
Table 20. Top 5 sources of income for Itumuta district
The main household expenses varied slightly between villages but all five villages shared the same top 5 expenses, namely: food supplies, power, church soli, other daily groceries (soap, toiletries, cleaning products, cigarettes, etc.). Four of the seven districts also listed social/cultural commitments in their top five expenses. Oinafa and Malhaha listed fuel for cooking and transport in their top five. Juju district was alone in listing school fees in their top five and Pepjei district was alone in listing solar power as one of their top five expenses.
Main household expenses Average expenses per week
1.Food supplies $69.44
2.Power/Energy $15.54
3. Soap $16.67
4.Solar Energy $3.50
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5.Church Soli $4.70
Table 21. Top 5 household expenses for Pepjei District
Main household expenses Average expenses per week
1.Foood supplies $46.07
2.Fuel for transportation $26.20
3.Power/Energy $11.56
4.Fuel for Cooking $9.60
5.Water Supply $5.69
Table 22. Top 5 household expenses for Oinafa District
Main household expenses Average expenses per week
1.Food supplies $48.26
2.Power/Energy $10.60
3. Church Soli $4.00
4.School Fees $6.92
5.Other daily necessities $4.00
Table 23. Top 5 household expenses for Juju District
Main household expenses Average expenses per week
1.Food supplies $69.33
2.Other daily necessities $22.50
3.Gas $6.00
4.Church soli $3.00
5.Social/cultural activities $8.75
Table 24. Top 5 household expenses for Malhaha District
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Main household expenses Average expenses per week
1.Food supplies $66.34
2.Power/Energy $23.26
3. Church soli $10.54
4.Social/cultural activities $10.17
5.Other daily necessities $9.50
Table 25. Top 5 household expenses for Itutiu District
Main household expenses Average expenses per week
1.Food supplies $31.43
2.Power/Energy $9.50
3. Other daily necessities $13.54
4.Electricity $7.00
5.Social/cultural activities $15.20
Table 26. Top 5 household expenses for Noatau District
Main household expenses Average expenses per week
1.Food supplies $47
2.Power/Energy $17.71
3. Church soli $10.40
4.Social/cultural activites $20
5.Other daily necessities $16.67
Table 27. Top 5 household expenses for Itumuta District
As summarised in Table 29, there was a wide variance in saving behaviour if the respondents both within and between districts. Some do save, some only sometimes and some never. Of the 59 respondents that stated that they did save money stated that they:
• Keep it in a safe place in the house (27 people), • Save it in the bank (16 people), • Contribute to a community fund (15 people), and • Use it to get loans/financing for other things (1 person).
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District Yes Sometimes Rarely No
1.Pepjei 5 (28%) 0 0 13 (72%)
2.Oinafa 8 (35%) 9 (39%) 4 (17%) 2 (9%)
3.Juju 11 (44%) 2 (8%) 1 (4%) 11 (44%)
4.Malhaha 7 (39%) 3 (17%) 3 (17%) 5 (27%)
5.Itutiu 27 (35% 34 (44%) 8 (9%) 9 (12%)
6.Noatau 1 (4%) 25 (89%) 2 (7%) 0
7.Itumuta 0 6 (50%) 5 (42%) 1 (8%)
Table 28. Response to the question: Do you personally save money?
As Table 30 illustrates, the main way that Rotuma Islanders get money if needed urgently is to borrow from friends and relatives. Furthermore, 33 of those respondents that selected the ‘other’ category stated that they arrange for family members in other parts of Fiji to send money via telegraphic transfer. The second most common way that money can be accessed is through harvesting agricultural crop and/or other natural resources. They also have a range of other ways in which to access cash which are less commonly used, including:
• Borrowing from someone in the community (12 respondents);
• Withdrawing from their bank account (5 respondents);
• Borrowing from a community fund (4 respondents);
• Pawning property (4 respondents);
• Selling a pig or cow (2 respondents);
• Selling matts (1 respondent);
• Borrowing from the church (1 respondent).
11 respondents stated that they do not have a way of accessing money urgently
District Borrow Harvest Harvest Other Borrow Borrow Pawn Do not money agricultural natural from money property have from crops resources someone from the collateral this family in the community for cash option and community fund friends
1.Pepjei 1 7 1 9 0 0 1 1
2.Oinafa 6 13 3 0 1 0 0 3
3. Juju 6 7 6 7 0 0 0 1
4.Malhaha 12 5 0 0 0 0 0 1
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5.Itutiu 23 17 9 24 6 4 1 5
6.Noatau 5 12 0 8 4 0 2 0
7.Itumuta 1 0 0 10 1 0 0 0
Table 29. Response to the question: If you need money urgently, how do you address this?
Of the respondents that replied that they do receive remittances from relatives who live away from Rotuma Island (Table 31), the average amount that they reported receiving was F$212.72 with a range of F$20 to F$800.
District Yes No
1.Pepjei 13(72%) 5(28%)
2.Oinafa 13(57%) 10(43%)
3.Juju 13(52%) 12(48%)
4.Malhaha 6(33%) 12(67%)
5.Itutiu 33(42%) 45(58%)
6.Noatau 2(7%) 26(93%)
7.Itumuta 1(8%) 11(92%)
Table 22. Response to the question: Does your household receive any remittance from family members and/or relatives who live elsewhere in Fiji or overseas?
Only seven individuals from the total sample group of the respondents replied that they do send remittances to relatives who live away from Rotuma Island (Table 31), the average amount that they reported sending per month was F$55 with a range of F$30 to F$100.
District Yes No
1.Pepjei 0 18(100%)
2.Oinafa 0 23(100%)
3. Juju 0 25(100%)
4.Malhaha 0 18(100%)
5.Itutiu 7(9%) 71(91%)
6.Noatau 0 28(100%)
7.Itumuta 0 12(100%)
Table 30. Response to the question: Does your household send any remittance to family members and/or relatives who live elsewhere in Fiji or overseas?
When asked how they send and receive these remittances, the majority of the respondents stated that they use the Post Office and only 1 respondent receives and sends via middlemen or someone they know.
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3.6 Food staples
For all of the districts on Rotuma Island, the main food staple is Dalo and Tavioka. The third main food staple included: Fish, Bele and Coconut (Table 32). This not surprising as these are all subsistence foods found in abundance on the island and it’s surrounding waters.
District Main food staple Second main food Third main food staple staple
1.Pepjei Dalo Tavioka Coconut
2.Oinafa Dalo Tavioka Bele
3. Juju Dalo Tavioka Bele
4.Malhaha Dalo Tavioka Fish
5.Itutiu Dalo Tavioka Fish
6.Noatau Tavioka Dalo Fish
7.Itumuta Tavioka Dalo Fish
For all Districts Dalo Tavioka Fish
Table 31 Three main food staples identified by respondents from each district
3.7 Survey Findings - Living conditions
Building materials can give a general indication of affluence and living conditions. The majority of households on Rotuma Island have cement walls (Table 32) which indicates a relatively high level of affluence for a rural, remote area. The majority of houses in the sample group also had corrugated iron roofs which further indicates relatively high affluence. It is interesting to note that a comparatively high proportion of households in the Juju district sample group had corrugated iron walls and thatch roofs which indicate a lower level of affluence (Table 33).
Wall materials – Number of households (percentage of village)
Corrugated iron Wood/bamboo Cement Other, coral mix
Pepjei 0 1 (6%) 17 (94%) 0
Oinafa 1 (4%) 1 (4%) 21 (92%) 0
Juju 3 (12%) 4 (16%) 17 (68%) 1 (4%)
Malhaha 0 1 (6%) 17 (94%) 0
Itutiu 8 (10%) 11 (14%) 58 (75%) 1 (1%)
Noatau 0 1 (4%) 27 (96%) 0
Itumuta 0 1 (8%) 11 (92%) 0
All 12(6%) 19(9%) 168 (83%) 4(2%)
Table 32. Response to the question: What are your walls made of?
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Roof materials – Number of households (percentage of village)
Thatch Corrugated iron Wooden/bamboo Concrete/Cement
Pepjei 0 18 (100%) 0 0
Oinafa 1 (4%) 20 (88%) 1 (4%) 1 (4%)
Juju 4 (16%) 21 (84%) 0 0
Malhaha 0 16 (89%) 0 2 (11%)
Itutiu 6 (8%) 70 (90%) 0 2 (2%)
Noatau 0 27 (96%) 0 1 (4%)
Itumuta 0 12(100%) 0 0
Table 33. Response to the question: What is your roofing made of?
As is typical for a fairly affluent remote rural area, the most common source of lighting was from a communally-owned village generator, the second most common was kerosene lamps. The Pepjei district was the exception to this pattern, in this district the sample ar almost entirely reliant on solar power for their lighting (Table 34).
Lighting Facility – Number of households (percentage of village)
Other, candles, kerosene benzene own village torch lamp lamp generator generator solar battery
Pepjei 0 0 0 0 17 (95%) 1 (6%)
Oinafa 12(31%) 7 (18%) 3 (8 %) 10 (26%) 6 (15%) 1(2%)
Juju 11(28%) 5 (12%) 1 (2%) 18 (44%) 0 5 (12%)
Malhaha 8(28%) 3(10%) 5(17%) 12(41%) 1(4%) 0
Itutiu 22 (21%) 2 (2%) 4 (4%) 51 (50%) 2 (2%) 16 (16%)
Noatau 16 (36%) 4 (9%) 2 (5%) 20 (45%) 2 (5%) 0
Itumuta 0 1 (8%) 0 10 (84%) 1(8%) 0
All 69 (24%) 22 (8%) 15 (5%) 121 (42%) 29 (10%) 23 (9%)
Table 34. Response to the question: How do you provide lighting in your house?
All households in all the villages use septic tanks to treat and dispose of their sewage (Table 35).
Sewage disposal – Number of households (percentage of village)
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Septic Pit
Pepjei 18 (100%) 0
Oinafa 23 (100%) 0
Juju 25 (100%) 0
Malhaha 18 (100%) 0
Itutiu 78 (100%) 0
Noatau 28 (100%) 0
Itumuta 12 (100%) 0
Table 35. Means of sewage disposal by village
The majority of the sample group in all districts rely on mobile phones for tele-communications. A smaller proportion also have home landlines which are in fact pre-pay Easy-tel phones that operate in a similar way to mobile phones. A smaller group still relied upon their neighbours and/or relatives’ phones.
Telecommunications
Neighbour/ Shared relative’s Public Phone community Home landline Mobile phone phone booth phone
Pepjei 3 15 0 0 0
Oinafa 7 19 1 0 0
Juju 4 16 2 0 1
Malhaha 5 12 0 0 0
Itutiu 7 47 8 5 0
Noatau 4 27 0 0 1
Itumuta 0 12 0 0 0
All 30 148 11 5 2
Table 36. Response to the question: How do you make a phone call when you need to?
The main means of transport for all the districts apart from two was to walk. In Malhaha and Itutiu districts the main means is to travel by carrier van. After these two options the sample group listed a combination of: motorbike, bicycle, bus, friends or relatives vehicle and their own vehicle (Table 37).
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Main means of transport
1 2 3 4 5
Pepjei Walk Motorbike Bicycle - -
Oinafa Walk Motorbike Bicycle Carrier/ Van Own vehicle
Juju Walk Motorbike Carrier/ Van Bicycle
Malhaha Carrier/ Van Walk Bicycle Bus Friends/relatives car
Itutiu Carrier/ Van Walk Motorbike Bicycle Friends/relatives car
Noatau Walk Carrier/ Van Bicycle Motorbike
Itumuta Walk Bicycle Motorbike - -
Table 37. Response to the question: What is your main means of transport.
Respondents used transport an average of 6 times a week and spent an average of $17 per week on transport.
The most common form of fuel used by all households in the sample group was firewood, which they use 7 days a week and is free (Table 40). The second and third most common fuel was mostly kerosene which is used most days of the week for cooking and lighting and communally-owned diesel generators which are used for lighting and appliances. Another common form of fuel used by all the villages is pre-mix which is used to power grass-cutters, benzene which is used for lighting and to power motorbikes and gas for cooking. Pepjei province was alone in listing the burning of coconut shells as fuel for cooking.
The sample group stated that they spend an average of $44.20 on energy/fuel per month with responses ranging from $1 to $222.95 per month.
Types of Fuel used by households (what the fuel is used for/average number of days per week/amount spent per week)
1 2 3 4 5
Pepjei Firewood Coconut Shells Kerosene Premix Benzene (cooking) (cooking) (cooking) (brushcutter) (motorbike)
Oinafa Firewood Kerosene Community Gas (cooking) Premix (cooking) (cooking/lighti Diesel (brushcutter) ng) Generator (lighting)
Juju Firewood Kerosene Community Premix Gas (cooking) (cooking) (cooking/lighti Diesel (brushcutter) ng) Generator (lighting)
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Malhaha Firewood Kerosene Community Gas (cooking) Premix (cooking) (cooking/lighti Diesel (brushcutter) ng) Generator (lighting)
Itutiu Firewood Community Kerosene Premix Gas (cooking) (cooking) Diesel (lighting) (cooking/ (brushcutter) lighting)
Noatau Firewood Kerosene Premix Community Benzene (cooking) (cooking/ (brushcutter) Generator (lighting/ lighting) (lighting) motorbike)
Itumuta Firewood Community Kerosene Premix Benzene (cooking) Diesel (lighting) (cooking/ (brushcutter) (lighting) lighting)
Table 38. Types of Fuel used by households (what the fuel is used for/average number of days per week/amount spent per week)
The sample group ranged somewhat in terms of how many hours of the day they make use of energy in their households (Table 41). However, most of the sample groups in each district mostly used energy for 1 to 3 hours a day.
Number of respondents (percentage of village)
Less than 1 hour Between 1and 3 More than 3 hours hours
Pepjei 0 16 (89%) 2 (11%)
Oinafa 2 (9%) 16 (70%) 5 (21%)
Juju 5 (20%) 11 (44%) 9 (36%)
Malhaha 0 11 (61%) 7 (39%)
Itutiu 7 (9%) 47 (60%) 24 (31%)
Noatau 7 (25%) 21 (75%) 0
Itumuta 0 11 (92%) 1 (8%)
All 21 (10%) 133 (66%) 48 (24%)
Table 39. Response to the question: How many hours a day do you or members of your household use energy in your house
When asked how members of their household spend evening time when electricity supply is not available:
• 55% of respondents said that they go to sleep,
• 29% of respondents said that they have a talanoa session,
• 8% of respondents said that they have grog, Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd Page 31
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• 5% of respondents said that they have their family devotion than they either go to sleep or have some grog, and
• 3% respondents stated that they assist their children with their homework.
When asked what time the members of their household go to sleep at night:
• 0.5% said 7pm
• 9% said 8pm
• 50% said 9pm
• 38.5% said 10pm
• 2% said 11pm.
The most common appliances households in the whole sample group owned was a fridge (33% of households) followed by a television (24% of households) (Table 40). 23% of households had a radio and a minority of households had computers and other household appliances.
Number of respondents (percentage of sample group from village)
Other Appliances; Fridge TV Radio Computer washing machine, kettle, iron
Pepjei 1 (9%) 7 (64%) 3 (27%) 0 0
Oinafa 4 (22%) 8 (44%) 5 (28%) 0 1 (6%)
Juju 1 (7%) 10 (66%) 3 (20%) 1 (7%) 0
Malhaha 5 (42%) 6 (50%) 1 (8%) 0 0
Itutiu 54 (36%) 39 (27%) 24 (16%) 19 (13%) 12 (8%)
Noatau 25 (39%) 2 (3%) 23 (36%) 14 (22%) 0
Itumuta 10 (32%) 0 11 (34%) 11 (34%) 0
All 100 (33%) 72 (24%) 70 (23%) 45 (15%) 13 (5%)
Table 40. Household appliances by district
Almost all of the households in the sample group identified at least one social or cultural financial commitment (Table 41). 33% of the sample group makes church donations, 34% makes donations to their village or community funds and 31% contribute funds to family commitments.
Number of respondents that identified the following social and cultural expenses (percentage of the group that replied to the question) – Sia make sure you calculate the percentage from the total number of people that answered the question)
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None Church Village/Community Family Others donations commitments
Pepjei 1 (1%) 17 (33%) 17 (33%) 17 (33%) 0
Oinafa 1 (2%) 22 (33%) 21 (32%) 22 (33%) 0
Juju 1 (2%) 21 (32%) 22 (33%) 22 (33%) 0
Malhaha 1 (2%) 11 (26%) 15 (35%) 16 (37%) 0
Itutiu 0 77 (35%) 74 (34%) 69 (31%) 0
Noatau 2 (3%) 23 (35%) 25 (38%) 14 (22%) 1 (2%)
Itumuta 0 11 (34%) 10 (32%) 11 (34%) 0
All 6 (1%) 182 (33%) 184 (34%) 171 (31%) 1 (1%)
Table 41. Response to the question: What types of social and cultural commitments does your household spend money on?
In total, the sample group estimated that they spend an average of $35.19 per month on social, religious and/or cultural commitments with a range from $2 to $320.
4 Survey Findings - Agricultural Production and Use
4.1 General Agricultural Activity
95% of the direct respondents stated that they or a member of their household engages in farming.
Respondents estimated that that they spend an average of 4 days per week engaged in farming with a range of 7 to 1 days and an average of 3 hours per day (ranging from 1 to 9 hours). Whereas they estimated that other members of their household spend an average of 4 days per week engaged in farming with a range of 7 to 1 days and an average of 4 hours per day (ranging from 1 to 9 hours).
When asked if they grew enough food to sustain their families:
• 93% stated that their households grow enough food for them to live off • 7% stated that they also need to buy food.
Of those that stated that they need to also buy food (16 respondents) they estimated that:
• 63% of their food was home grown (with a range of 10 to 100%), and • 47% of their food was purchased (with a range of 10 to 100%).
A comparison of Tables 43 and 44 indicates that households are generally growing the same top two crops that they would grow if money and time were not an issue. Crops that they would grow more of if able were bele, kumala and green vegetables. Instead the main crops grown after dalo and cassava are currently coconut, yam and pineapple.
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District Most favoured crop Second most Third most favoured favoured crop crop
1.Pepjei Dalo Cassava Green Vegetables
2.Oinafa Dalo Cassava Bele
3. Juju Dalo Cassava Bele
4.Malhaha Dalo Cassava Kumala
5.Itutiu Dalo Cassava Bele
6.Noatau Cassava Dalo Coconut
7.Itumuta Cassava Dalo Bele
For all Districts Dalo Cassava Bele
Table 42. Response to the question: which would be the top 3 crops that you would like to grow the most (if money and time were not an issue)?
Of the households that stated that they do sell their non-coconut crops, when asked how they do this:
• 35 respondents said that they sell to the middlemen, • 58 respondents said that they sell directly to other people in the village, and • 21 respondents sell at a local centre/village market.
When asked how they transport the non-coconut/copra crops that they sell from where they harvest:
• 39 respondents said that people come to them to buy them, • 22 respondents said that they take it by truck or van that they meet along the way, • 12 respondents said that they go by foot, • 10 respondents mentioned that they use a motorbike, • 3 respondents said that they take it via boat to Suva, and • 2 respondents said they use a bicycle.
When asked who owns the transport that they use to transport these crops from harvest to point of sale:
• 18 respondents said that they own it themselves, • 15 respondents said that it is owned by the district or the buyer themselves, • 5 respondents said that it is owned by someone in the village, • 5 respondents said that it is owned by someone outside the village, and • 2 respondents said that it is owned by friends or relatives.
When asked how often they need to transport their crops in order to sell them, the 48 people that replied gave an average of 3 times a month with a range of 1 to 15.
When asked how long it takes them to get your crops from where you harvest them to the buyer and return (except coconut/copra):
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• 8 of the 54 respondents (15%) stated that it takes them less than 10 minutes • 18 of the 54 respondents (33%) stated that it takes them between 10 and 30 minutes • 27 of the 54 respondents (50%) stated that it takes them between 30 minutes and 1 hour • 1 of the 54 respondents (2%) stated that it takes them between 1 and 2 hours When asked how much it costs them to use this transportation, 24 interviewees responded to this question. The average cost was $30.18 with a range of $2.00 to $29.94.
Average Crop Average surface area in Average income ranking of crop Acres (maximum, per week from the minimum) sold portion (F$) (1 = grow the most of)
1 Dalo 1.1 acres (25, 0.1) $68
2 Cassava 0.6 acre (6, 1) $39.61
3 Coconut 1.2 acre (12, 0.1) $34.23
4 Yams 0.25 acre (0.5, 0.1) $7.25
5 Pineapples 1.9 acres (5, 0.25) Not sold
Table 43. Crops that respondents claim to currently have under cultivation
4.2 Current Coconut-related Agricultural Activity
36% of the households in the sample group advised that they harvest ‘niuvarvar’ (Table 44). This pattern was similar in each of the districts with the exception of Noatau and Itumuta districts where households more commonly harvest the young coconut.
Of the respondents that replied that they do harvest ‘niuvarvar’, when asked how often they harvest per week they gave an average of 1 time with a range of 1 to 12.
When asked how much they harvest per week, they gave an average of 14 times with a range of 1 to 80 nuts.
District Yes No
1.Pepjei 6 (33%) 12 (67%)
2.Oinafa 1 (4%) 22 (96%)
3. Juju 6 (24%) 19 (76%)
4.Malhaha 2 (11%) 16 (89%)
5.Itutiu 3 (4%) 48 (96%)
6.Noatau 20 (71%) 8 (29%)
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7.Itumuta 6 (50%) 6 (50%)
Total for Rotuma Sample Group 71 (36%) 129 (64%)
Table 44. Response to the question: do you and/or the member(s) of your household harvest ‘niuvarvar’
As Table 45 illustrates, almost none of the households sell the niuvarvar that they harvest. Of the respondents that replied that they do sell some of the niuvarvar that they harvest, when asked how many kilograms they sell per week, they estimated an average of 5.5kg per week with a range of 2 to 10. They estimated an income from these sales of F$65.80 per week (average) with a range of $15 to $270.
District Yes No
1.Pepjei 0 18 (100%)
2.Oinafa 2 (9%) 22 (91%)
3. Juju 0 25 (100%)
4.Malhaha 0 18 (100%)
5.Itutiu 5 (6%) 73 (94%)
6.Noatau 0 28 (100%)
7.Itumuta 0 12 (100%)
Total for Rotuma Sample Group 7 196
Table 45. Response to the question: is any of the ‘niuvarvar’ that your household harvests for sale?
When asked what they do with the ‘niuvarvar’ that they harvest:
• 44 (23.28%) respondents replied that they use it for cooking/eating/drinking,
• 32 (16.93%) respondents replied that they use it to feed animals, • 21 (11.11%) respondents replied that they use it for other purposes, • 19 (10.05%) respondents replied that they use it for fuel, • 18 (9.52%) respondents replied that they use it to make ‘tahroro’, • 10 (5.29%) respondents replied that they Give it as gifts, and • 2 (1.06%) respondents replied that they use it for household materials.
88% of the households in the sample group advised that they harvest mature coconut (Table 46). When asked how often they harvest per week these respondents gave an average of 9 times with a range of 1 to 7. When asked how much they harvest per week, they gave an average of 173 kg with a range of 1 to 1425. Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd Page 36
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District Yes No
1.Pepjei 15 0
2.Oinafa 18 2
3.Juju 15 1
4.Malhaha 9 2
5.Itutiu 51 10
6.Noatau 22 3
7.Itumuta 10 2
Total for Rotuma Sample Group 140 20
Table 46. Response to the question: do you and/or the member(s) of your household harvest ‘mature coconuts’
58% of the respondents that do harvest coconut advised that some was for sale (Table 47). For those that do sell their mature coconuts they estimated that they sell an average of 141kg per week and that the average income from selling mature coconut was $60.00.
District Yes No
1.Pepjei 10 5
2.Oinafa 2 19
3. Juju 8 8
4.Malhaha 4 6
5.Itutiu 40 22
6.Noatau 19 4
7.Itumuta 10 2
Total for Rotuma Sample Group 93 (58%) 66 (42%)
Table 47. Response to the question: is any of the ‘mature coconut’ that your household harvests for sale?
As Table 48 demonstrates, the most common way that the sample group dries copra is by putting it out in the sun (92% of respondents) followed by smoking it (4%). 3% of the respondents advised that they do not dry the copra that they harvest. When asked how long it takes to dry copra the average number of days advised was 4 with a range from 2 to 6 days.
Number of Percentage
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respondents
By putting it out in the sun 112 92%
By smoking it 5 4%
Sell it raw 4 3%
By putting it inside a kiln (oven) 1 1%
Table 48. Response to the question How do you dry copra?
When asked what they do with the ‘mature coconuts’ that they harvest:
• 73 (17%) respondents replied that they sell it,
• 74 (17%) respondents replied that use it for cooking/eating/drinking,
• 43 (10%) respondents replied that they produce copra for household use, • 38 (9%) respondents replied that they use it to make coconut oil, • 34 (8%) respondents replied that they use it for household materials, • 34 (8%) respondents replied that they use to for fuel, and • 15 (3%) respondents replied that they give it as gifts.
Of the sample group that answered the question: ‘Do you and/or the member(s) of your household extract coconut oil?’ 70% of the sample group that answered the question relied that they do (Table 49).
District Yes No
1.Pepjei 1 4
2.Oinafa 21 2
3. Juju 9 5
4.Malhaha 13 0
5.Itutiu 35 26
6.Noatau 25 1
7. Itumuta 4 8
Total for Rotuma Sample Group 108 46
Table 49. Response to the question: do you and/or the member(s) of your household extract coconut oil?
Of the respondents that replied that they do extract coconut oil, when asked how often they extract oil per week they gave an average of 10 times with a range of 1 to 10.
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When asked how much they harvest per week, they gave an average of 4 litres with a range of 0.5 to 20 litres. When asked how long it takes to extract the oil, respondents gave an average of 4 hours per litre with a range of 0.5 to 24 hours per litre.
The vast majority of respondents advised that the coconut oil that they produce is not for sale (Table 50). The one household that did sell coconut oil advised that they sell 5 litres per week and that the income from selling oil was $150 per week.
District Yes No
1.Pepjei 0 2
2.Oinafa 0 23
3. Juju 0 13
4.Malhaha 1 12
5.Itutiu 0 42
6.Noatau 0 27
7.Itumuta 0 12
Total for Rotuma Sample Group 1 131
Table 50. Response to the question: is any of the oil that your household extracts for sale?
All of the respondent use the same method to extract the oil; they use a scraper and a piece of cloth to extract the coconut milk and then cook the milk in a pot until the oil separates from the milk.
When asked who does the coconut oil extraction works, 82% of households advised that men did the work whereas 14% households advised that women did the work. The average of the people that did the work was: 46 but it ranged from 20 years to 69 years old.
As Table 51 demonstrates, the sample group reported making a range of uses of the oil that they extract, the most common being cooking oil followed by body lotion. Both of these products are mostly for home use but a smaller proportion is sold.
Use Number of Average proportion Average proportion respondents for home use sold (percentage)
Cooking Oil 105 (57%) 69% 31%
Body Lotion 56 (31%) 60% 40%
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Soap 20 (11%) 100% 0%
Other 2 (1%) 50% 50%
Table 51. Response to the question: What do you do with the coconut oil that your household produces?
Table 52 summarises the respondents’ description of how they transport the ‘niuvarvar’, mature coconut, copra and oil that they sell.
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Niuvarvar Mature coconut Copra Coconut oil
How is it transported from • From home • From home • From home • From home where it is harvested to where it is sold/consumed • Boat • On foot • By foot • Send by plane to Nadi • Bicycle • Bicycle
• • Car/ motorbike • Car/motorbike
• Boat • Boat
• Truck – village cooperative • Truck – village cooperative
The transport that is used is • Company airplane that they • Owned by family or • By family and friends in the village • Not applicable owned by: work for relatives and outside the village
• Owned by friends • Buyer/company that produces biofuel • Someone in the village
• Village cooperative
Number of times a month 1 – 4 times per month • 1 – 5 times a month • 1 – 5 times a month • Not applicable households need to transport the produce:
Times taken for each return • Between 1 minute and 2 • Between 1 minutes and 2 • Between 1 minutes and 2 hours • Not applicable trip from where they hours hours harvest to where it is sold
Average cost of each return • Between $1 and $20. • Average of $16.21. Between $1 and $20. • Not applicable trip from where they harvest to where it is sold
Table 52. Transportation arrangements for niuvarvar, mature coconut, copra and coconut oil
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As Table 53 indicates the majority of the respondents sell a large proportion of the coconut that they harvest (between 80 and 100% sold). Correspondingly, Table 43 indicates that a large proportion of the respondents rely on coconut production for over 50% their household income. When asked whether they had enough coconut left for their households after selling their coconut products (including copra and coconut oil) 65% (91 households) replied that they did. When asked if they buy coconut products from others (including Niuvarvar, mature coconuts, copra and coconut oil) only 1 respondent stated that they buy young coconuts and 2 respondents stated that they buy coconut oil while the other respondents do not.
Percentage of harvest Number of Percentage of sold respondents respondents
90 - 100% 78 52%
80 - 89% 33 23%
70 - 79% 2 1%
60 - 69% 1 0.5%
50 - 59% 3 2.5%
40 - 49% 1 0.5%
30 - 39% 2 1%
20 - 29% 1 0.5%
10 -19% 2 1%
1 - 9% 0 0
0% 27 18%
Table 53. Response to the question Approximately how much of the coconut you harvest (including copra and coconut oil) do you sell?
Percentage of household Number of Percentage of income respondents respondents
90 - 100% 28 18%
80 - 89% 29 19%
70 - 79% 8 5%
60 - 69% 7 4%
50 - 59% 20 13%
40 - 49% 6 4%
30 - 39% 7 4%
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20 - 29% 17 11%
10 -19% 7 4%
1 - 9% 2 1%
0% 26 17%
Table 54. Response to the question: What proportion of your annual household income comes from coconut production?
When asked to estimate the age of the coconut trees that their households harvest from:
• 4% (8 people) estimated the age at less than 15 years,
• 33% (66 people) estimated the age at between 15 and 25 years, and
• 63% (124 people) estimated the age at over 25 years.
Respondents estimates of the average yield of one of their coconut trees per year was an average of 384 young and mature coconuts per year with a range from 52 to 1440 nuts.
51 of the respondents replied that they do replant coconut trees compared with 52 that said they did not. Of those that do plant trees, they do so once a year and plant an average of 18 trees per year. As Table 55 demonstrates, the respondents reported planting a range of tree varieties, the most common by far being the Rotuma Tall.
Variety Number of respondents Percentage
Rotuma Tall 96 84%
Dwarf 11 10%
Malayan 3 3%
Hybrid 4 3%
Table 55. Response to the question: What varieties of coconut trees have you and/or member(s) of your household planted?
5 Conclusion
The baseline assessment of Rotuma Island revealed a remote rural subsistence community that is almost entirely Rotuman in ethnicity and is spread between seven districts. The village of Ahau also hosts civil servants who administer the following extension offices: The Department of Regional Development, The Fiji Police Force, The Ministry of Health, The Ministry of Primary Industries Agriculture Extension Office; The Department of National Roads, The Bio-security Authority of Fiji, The Water Authority of Fiji , Telecom Fiji, The Post Fiji Office, and The Fiji Customs Authority. Rotuma Hospital is also located at Ahau. The Hospital also operates an ambulance service that can be accessed by any village through telephone. The hospital is staffed by a doctor, dentist, health inspector and five nurses. There are four Primary School and a Secondary School in Rotuma Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd 43
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The island is accessed via boat and plane. The main means of transport on the island itself is by foot, carrier van, motorbike, bicycle, and bus. Not many people own vehciles and those that do commonly provide transport to friends or relatives. Water supply is through bores that connect to households via pumped pipelines which are maintained by the Water Authority. Power supply is through community or privately-owned generators. The main source of fuel is firewood which is used for cooking and lighting, followed by kerosene which is also used for cooking and lighting, followed by a community-owned generators which are used for lighting and appliances. Sewage is disposed of through a combination of septic and pit toilets. Solid waste is burnt or dumped in a household pit. The majority of the sample group in all districts rely on mobile phones for tele- communications. A smaller proportion also have home landlines which are in fact pre-pay Easy-tel phones that operate in a similar way to mobile phones. Each village also has a large central green that is used to play sports.
The age structure of the island indicates a general pattern of a population dominated by middle- aged adults and school-age children as would be expected for a remote rural community where young adults tend to migrate to cities for employment and the populations starts to drop off beyond the age of 66.
The majority of the island’s adult population completed secondary school whereas a smaller group only completed primary. The vast majority of the island’s residents stated their occupation as farmer (mostly male) and domestic duties (mostly female). The 36 respondents that identified themselves as employed were mostly labourers, small-business operators, school teachers or civil servants.
According to the sample group, the main source of income in all of the villages is copra followed by remittances. The third, fourth and fifth most common source of income varied depending on the district but was a combination of: Root crops (dalo, kumala, cassava), paid employment, and farming (livestock and vegetable). The main household expenses varied slightly between villages but all five villages shared the same top 5 expenses, namely: food supplies, power, church soli, other daily groceries (soap, toiletries, cleaning products, cigarettes, etc.). Four of the seven districts also listed social/cultural commitments in their top five expenses.
For all of the districts on Rotuma Island, the main food staple is dalo followed by tavioka. The third main food staples included: bele, fish and coconut. This is not surprising as these are all subsistence foods found in abundance on the island and it’s surrounding waters.
36% of the households in the sample group harvest niuvarvar but that they do not sell it. It is used by these households for a wide range of purposes including cooking, eating, drinking, to feed animals, and for household materials.
88 % of the households in the sample group harvest mature coconut and that is for home use as well as for sale. A wide range of uses are made of this mature coconut including: cooking, eating, drinking, feeding animals, fuel, household materials. They also process it into copra and oil. The latter is used for cooking, body lotion and soap. Correspondingly, a large proportion of the respondents rely on coconut production for over 50% of their household income. When asked whether they had enough coconut left for their households after selling their coconut products (including copra and coconut oil) 65% of those that responded to the question stated that they did. When asked if they buy coconut products from others (including niuvarvar, mature coconuts, copra and coconut oil) almost all of the respondents replied that they did not.
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ATTACHMENT 1: Terms of Reference
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ANNEX A- TERMS OF REFERENCE
DEVELOPMENT, UPGRADE AND DELIVERY OF SEFP SECTOR SOCIAL ECONOMIC CONSULTANCY SURVEY FOR COCONUT FUEL SECTOR IN FIJI
Note: NOT A DRAFT
1.0 BACKGROUND
The Sustainable Energy Financing Project (SEFP) is a World Bank initiative utilising funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The funding allocation predominantly comprises a risk sharing fund that guarantees loans made by financial institutions for renewable energy technologies. The World Bank is responsible for the supervision of SEFP in PNG, Fiji and Solomon Islands.
In each country the project is implemented by an Executive Agent (EA) and the risk sharing fund is managed by a Fund Manager which is ANZ Group. The Department of Energy (DOE) is the Executive Agency for SEFP in Fiji.. 2.0 SEFP GOALS
The overall aim of the SEFP is to significantly increase the adoption and use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in Fiji by delivering and channelling a package of financial incentives through any approved Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and initiatives.
Amongst the challenges faced by businesses regarding the uptake of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency technologies are four key factors:
1. Lack of management commitment
2. Lack of information
3. Lack of comprehensive measurement tools
4. Financial barriers
The Fiji DOE is now seeking to hire an individual consultant to undertake the assignment of “Technical Assistance and Support for Bio-fuel consultancy/workshop program”. This Technical Assistance (TA) covered by this assignment is within Component ii (b) of SEFP which is TA for retailers in the energy sector in Fiji. Environment Consultants Fiji Ltd 46
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3.0 SCOPE OF WORK
a) Conduct action-research on socio economic status of the:
• community
• individual households and
• individual villagers.
b) Percentage of current income generated from processing of coconut oil into:
• bio-fuel
• cooking oil
• soap and
• body lotion
in the mill communities.
c) Conduct action research on the communities on accessible utilities and available:
• Infrastructure
• Water
• Roads
• Telecommunication
• sports, etc.
The consultant is expected to:
1. Co-ordinate with DOE on development of the, and facilitate speedy delivery of the feasibility report.
2. Submit the report detailing any noteworthy matters associated with the research, a summary of the people involved including the questionnaires.
4.0 TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES
The timetable for the above mentioned deliverables are:
1. Collect data from Rotuma and Cicia – (Estimated level of effort of up to 7 working days for each site);
2. Analyse the data collected (Estimated level of effort of up to 10 working days for each site);; and
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3. Submit a brief report detailing any noteworthy matters associated with the social economic impact of the biodiesel mill in Rotuma and Cicia. (Estimated up to 2 working days)
5.0 WORK APPROACH, SCHEDULE AND REPORTING
The Consultant will report directly to the SEFP Project Manager under supervision of the Department of Energy (DOE).
The Consultant’s deliverables, as indicated above, should be submitted to the SEFP Project Manager within 1 week of survey completion.
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ATTACHMENT 2: Rotuma Island Survey Questionnaire
Note: NOT A DRAFT
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PRE-MILL ESTABLISHMENT SOCIAL SURVEY FOR ROTUMA & CICIA
Begin by explaining to the interviewee that you are involved with the Department of Energy/World Bank Project that is constructing Coconut Biofuel plants (one on Cicia and one on Rotuma) that will be providing biofuel to the island. Refer Appendix for information on this project.
Secondly, explain that the purpose of the questionnaire is to gather some basic information from the communities that Dept. of Energy hopes will benefit from the project. The questionnaire will gather information about:
• how you currently get and use power/energy/fuel/etc.,
• how you earn your income,
• how you source and use food, and
• your current use of coconut.
Then in a few years time, the same questionnaire will be repeated with you community to see whether the project has lead to any positive changes in these areas for you.
CONFIDENTIALITY – The information collected in this questionnaire will only be used by the World Bank and the Department of Energy for the purpose explained above. All the data collected is confidential.
QUESTIONNAIRE No:______
HOUSEHOLD No: ______
LOCATION:______
SECTION A: HOUSEHOLD DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
1. Participant’s Name (Optional - please stress the interview is anonymous and the information provided will not be connected back to their name):
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2. Contact details - phone or email (Optional): 3. Gender (Please Circle The Appropriate response): Male Female 4. Age: 5. Ethnic Group: Rotuman Fijian Other (specify)……………………. 6. (Please Circle The Appropriate response): Employed (paid work) Unemployed
7. If employed, are you employed: Fulltime Part-time
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8. Household Membership
Would you please tell me the following details about all the people who live in your house.
The people of the same household should share the same kitchen.
Do not include details about people who do not live with you such as guests.
Name of head of the household:......
Income per week Relationship to No Name household head Sex Age Education** Main Occupation*** ****
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Approximate total weekly household income
9. Number of people in household......
10. Approximate total weekly household income $......
------
** Options for Education box:
For adults: Did not complete primary, completed primary, competed secondary, diploma, degree, never attended school.
For children: Still in primary, still in secondary school, minor
*** Options for Occupation box:
Farmer, unskilled labourer, small businessman, civil servant, private sector worker, craftsman/handiman, informal/casual worker, student, retired, disabled, unemployed, others (specify...... )
**** Options for income box (per week):
Less than $30 $30 to $49 $50 to $99 $100 to $199 $200 to $499 $500 and more (if more – how much more ? $...... )
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11. List according from highest to lowest your sources of income
For example: Farming – if farming please specific which crop you earn income from (coconut /copra/dalo/kava/kumala/bele/cassava), Logging, Store-owner, Paid by employer (state the job), Livestock Farming, self-employed truck driver, members not living in household (remittances).
Top 5 sources of income What is your approximate weekly income from these sources?
1
2
3
4
5
12. List in order from highest to lowest what your household spends its income on in aweek , the amount you spend, and estimate your TOTAL weekly expenses
Expense Amount per week (rough estimate is fine)
1
2
3
4
5
Estimate of total weekly household expenses
Examples of expenses:
Food supplies for home Clothing Restaurants/street food
Fuel for car Mortgage payments Grog/Alcohol
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Bus fares/Carrier fares Lease for house/land (if any) Contributuions to the cooperative?
Other forms of transport? Maintenance of house Water supply
Power/energy Medical/Health Care Leasure
Gas Social or culturalactivities? Other daily necessities: Soap, toothbrush, shampoo, cigarettes, etc. School Fees Church soli
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13. What are the THREE main food staples in your household (number 1 to 3 the ones you eat most, 1 = most, 3 = least):
Coconut
Rice
Fish
Dalo
Tavioka
Kumala
Bele
Other (please list)
14. Do you (personally) save money on a regular basis?
a) Yes (go to 15)
b) Sometimes (go to 15)
c) Rarely (go to 15)
d) No (go to 16)
15. What do you do with the money you save? (tick as many as apply)
a) Keep it in a safe place in the house
b) Contribute to a community fund where people put in money
c) Use it to get loans/financing for other things I want to buy
d) Deposit in bank account
e) Other, please explain______
16. Does your household receive any remittance (money sent) from family members and/or relatives who live in Suva, elsewhere in Fiji or overseas?
YES
NO
17. Please estimate the average amount of the remittance (money) that your household receives per month.
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$______per month per household
18. Does your household send any remittance (money sent) to family members and/or relatives who live in Suva, elsewhere in Fiji or overseas?
YES
NO
19. Please estimate the average amount of the remittance (money) that your household sends per month.
$______per month per household
20. How do you send/receive the remittance (money sent) to/from family members and/or relatives?
a) Send and/or receive at post office
b) Send and/or receive in hand delivered by someone I know or middleman
c) Other, please explain______
21. If you need money urgently, how do you address this? (tick as many as apply)
a) Borrow money from family or relatives
b) Borrow money from neighbours or people in the community
c) Borrow money from community fund
d) Pawn something I own as collateral for cash (please explain where)______
e) Harvest agricultural crops
f) Harvest natural resources (fish, beche de mer etc.)
g) Other, please explain______
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h) I don’t have a way of getting more money if I need it.
SECTION B: OVERVIEW OF AGRICULTURE/COCONUT/COPRA/COCONUT OIL PRODUCTION
22. Of these, which would be the top 3 crops that you would like to grow the most (if money and time were not an issue)? (please number 1 = most to 3= third most. Please explain why
Rating Crop Why do you prefer to grow this crop? (1 to 3) Dalo
Cassava
Kumala
Bele
Coconut (copra)
Other:
23. Do you or any member(s) of your household engage in farming?
YES
NO
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24. If yes, please provide the following details about the crops that you do grow (including coconut)
Crop type Which of Surface Area of How much of How much of Approximate these crops Crop (Acres) this crop do this crop do Income per do you grow you and your you sell? (%) week from the most of household this crop $: (quantity) eat? (%) 1 = the most, 4 = the least
25. How many days a week do you and/or the member(s) of your household engage in farming?
Me: ______days per week
Other members of my household: ______days per week
26. How many hours each day do you and/or the member(s) of your household engage in farming?
Me:______hours per day
Other members of my household:______hours per day
27. Do you grow enough food to sustain your family or do you also have to buy food??
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a) Yes, my household grows enough food for us to live off
b) No, we also need to buy food.
If no, how much of the food that you eat is home-grown vs purchased ? Home-grown: ______% Purchased:______%
28. How do you sell your crop(s)? (Tick as many as apply)
a) Sell to middlemen
b) Sell directly to people within the village
c) Sell at a local centre/village market
d) Sell to the village cooperative
e) Sell elsewhere (e.g. in Suva)
f) Other, please provide details:______
29. How do you transport the crops you sell (except coconut/copra) from the where you harvest them? Tick as many as apply a) People come to buy at my house b) I bring to people’s houses/village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by foot c) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by bicycle d) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by car/motorbike e) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by horse f) I take to middleman or to other markets by boat g) Other, please explain______
30. Who owns the transport you use to take your crops to the buyer? a) I own it b) Owned by family or relatives c) Owned by friends d) Owned by someone in the village
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e) Owned by someone outside the village f) Other, please explain______
31. How often do you need to transport your crops in order to sell them (times per month)?
______times per month
32. On each trip, how long does it take you to get your crops from where you harvest them to the buyer – return trip (except coconut/copra)? a) Less than 10 minutes b) Between 10 and 30 minutes c) Between 30 minutes and 1 hour d) Between 1 and 2 hours e) More than 2 hours
33. On each return trip, how much does it cost to transport your crops from where you harvest them to where you sell them (except coconut/copra)? $______
34. Do you and/or the member(s) of your household harvest ‘niuvarvar’ Yes No
How often: ______per week
Amount harvested: ______kg per week
35. Are any of the ‘niuvarvar’ that your household harvests for sale? Yes No
If yes, please estimate the amount sold: ______kg per week
please estimate the income from the sale: $______per week
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36. Do you and/or the member(s) of your household harvest mature coconuts Yes No
How often: ______per week
Amount harvested: ______kg per week
37. Are any of the mature coconut that your household harvests for sale? Yes No
If yes, please estimate the amount sold: ______kg per week
please estimate the income from the sale: $______per week
38. How do you (or did you) dry copra? (tick all that apply)
a) By smoking it b) By putting it out in the sun c) By putting it inside a kiln (oven) d) Other, please explain______
39. How long does it (or did it) take you to dry copra?______Days
40. Do you and/or the member(s) of your household extract coconut oil? Yes No
How often: ______per week
Amount harvested: ______litres per week
41. Roughly how much time does it take to extract the oil?
______hours per litre
42. Is any of the coconut oil that your household harvests for sale? Yes No
If yes, please estimate the amount sold: ______litres per week
please estimate the income from the sale: $______per week
43. How do you extract the coconut oil? Please describe the method and equipment used in as much detail as possible:
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44. Who does this coconut oil extraction work? (make sure you get an understanding of the gender and age)
45. What do you do with the coconut oil your household produces?
Use Yes/No How much How How What Unit How much per is for much do much do do you month does home you sell? you charge by your household use? (Rank 1-5 charge? (per litre, make from (Rank 1-5 or%) per bar of these sales? or %) soap, per kg)?
Fuel Cooking Oil Soap Body Lotion Other (please
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detail below):
46. What do you and the members of your household do with the ‘niuvarvar’ that you harvest? Tick as many as apply.
a) Sell it b) Cooking/Eating/Drinking c) Give it as gifts d) Use it for household materials e) Use it to feed animals f) Use it for fuel, please explain______g) Other (please explain)______
47. What do you and the members of your household do with the mature coconuts that you harvest? Tick as many as apply.
a) Sell it b) Cooking/Eating/Drinking c) Give it as gifts d) Use it for household materials e) Use it to make coconut oil f) Produce copra for household use or give as gifts g) Produce copra to sell h) Use it to feed animals i) Use it for fuel, Please explain______j) Other (please explain)______
48. How do you sell the ‘niuvarvar’ you produce?
a) Sell to middlemen b) Sell directly to people within the village c) Sell at a local centre/village market d) Sell to the village cooperative e) Sell elsewhere (e.g. in Suva) f) Other ______
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49. How do you sell the mature coconut you produce?
a) Sell to middlemen b) Sell directly to people within the village c) Sell at a local centre/village market d) Sell to the village cooperative e) Sell elsewhere (e.g. in Suva) f) Other ______
50. How do you sell the copra you produce?
a) Sell to middlemen b) Sell directly to people within the village c) Sell at a local centre/village market d) Sell to the village cooperative e) Sell elsewhere (e.g. in Suva) f) Other ______
51. How do you sell the coconut oil you produce?
a) Sell to middlemen b) Sell directly to people within the village c) Sell at a local centre/village market d) Sell to the village cooperative e) Sell elsewhere (e.g. in Suva) f) Other ______
52. How do you transport the ‘niuvarvar’ from the where you harvest it? Tick as many as apply
a) People come to buy at my house b) I bring to people’s houses/village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by foot c) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by bicycle d) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by car/motorbike e) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by horse f) I take to middleman or to other markets by boat g) Other, please explain______
53. Who owns the transport you use to take the ‘niuvarvar’ to the buyer?
a) I own it b) Owned by family or relatives
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c) Owned by friends d) Owned by someone in the village e) Owned by someone outside the village f) Other, please explain______
54. How often do you need to transport ‘niuvarvar’ in order to sell it (times per month)?
______times per month
55. On each return trip, how long does it take you to get the ‘niuvarvar’ from where you harvest it to the buyer?
a) Less than 10 minutes b) Between 10 and 30 minutes c) Between 30 minutes and 1 hour d) Between 1 and 2 hours e) More than 2 hours…….please state how long……………..
56. On each return trip, how much does it cost to transport ‘niuvarvar’ from where you harvest it to where you sell them?
a) Less than $1 b) Between $1 and $5 c) Between $5 and $10 d) Between $5 and $15 e) Between $15 and $20 f) More than $20…….please state how long……………..
57. How do you transport the mature coconut from the where you harvest it? Tick as many as apply
a) People come to buy at my house b) I bring to people’s houses/village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by foot c) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by bicycle d) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by car/motorbike e) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by horse f) I take to middleman or to other markets by boat g) Other, please explain…………………………..
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a) I own it b) Owned by family or relatives c) Owned by friends d) Owned by someone in the village e) Owned by someone outside the village f) Other, please explain
59. How often do you need to transport mature coconut in order to sell it (times per month)?
a) 1 b) 1-3 c) 3-5 d) More than 5 – How many times ? …………………
60. On each trip, how long does it take you to get the mature coconut from where you harvest it to the buyer?
a) Less than 10 minutes b) Between 10 and 30 minutes c) Between 30 minutes and 1 hour d) Between 1 and 2 hours e) More than 2 hours. How long ? ……………
61. On each trip, how much does it cost to transport mature coconut from where you harvest it to where you sell them?
$______
62. How do you transport copra from the where you harvest it? Tick as many as apply
a) People come to buy at my house b) I bring to people’s houses/village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by foot c) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by bicycle d) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by car/motorbike e) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by horse f) I take to middleman or to other markets by boat g) Other, please explain: ……………………………
63. Who owns the transport you use to take copra to the buyer?
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a) I own it b) Owned by family or relatives c) Owned by friends d) Owned by someone in the village e) Owned by someone outside the village f) Other, please explain
64. How often do you need to transport copra in order to sell it (times per month)?
a) 1 b) 1-3 c) 3-5 d) More than 5: How many times ? ………………
65. On each return trip, how long does it take you to get copra from where you harvest it to the buyer?
a) Less than 10 minutes b) Between 10 and 30 minutes c) Between 30 minutes and 1 hour d) Between 1 and 2 hours e) More than 2 hours: How long? ……………
66. On each return trip, how much does it cost to transport copra from where you harvest it to where you sell it?
a) Less than $1 b) Between $1 and $5 c) Between $5 and $10 d) Between $5 and $15 e) Between $15 and $20 f) More than $20: How long? ……………
67. How do you transport coconut oil from the where you harvest it? Tick as many as apply
a) People come to buy at my house b) I bring to people’s houses/village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by foot c) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by bicycle d) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by car/motorbike e) I bring to people’s houses/ village centre/market/cooperative/middleman by horse f) I take to middleman or to other markets by boat
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g) Other, please explain: ……………………………..
68. Who owns the transport you use to take coconut oil to the buyer?
a) I own it b) Owned by family or relatives c) Owned by friends d) Owned by someone in the village e) Owned by someone outside the village f) Other, please explain: …………………………..
69. How often do you need to transport coconut oil in order to sell it (times per month)?
a) 1 b) 1-3 c) 3-5 d) More than 5: How many times? ……………
70. On each return trip, how long does it take you to get coconut oil from where you harvest it to the buyer?
a) Less than 10 minutes b) Between 10 and 30 minutes c) Between 30 minutes and 1 hour d) Between 1 and 2 hours e) More than 2 hours: How long ?...... 71. On each trip, how much does it cost to transport coconut oil from where you harvest it to where you sell it?
a) Less than $1 b) Between $1 and $5 c) Between $5 and $10 d) Between $5 and $15 e) Between $15 and $20 f) More than $20: How much ?......
72. Approximately how much of the coconut you harvest (including copra and coconut oil) do you sell?
Sell:______% (interviewer gauge %)
Don’t sell:______% (interviewer gauge %)
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73. After you sell your coconut products (including copra and coconut oil), do you have enough coconut left for your household ?
a) Yes b) No
74. Do you buy coconut products from others? Tick as many as apply
a) Yes, buy ‘niuvarvar’ b) Yes, buy mature coconuts c) Yes, buy copra d) Yes, buy coconut oil e) No
75. How much of your annual household income comes from coconut production?
From Coconuts______% From other source:______% (interviewer gauge %)
76. Please estimate the age of the coconut trees that you and/or member(s) of your household harvest.
Less than 15 years
Between 15 and 25 years
Over 25 Years
77. What varieties of coconut trees have you and/or member(s) of your household planted?
Please list the varieties planted: ______
______
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78. What is the average yield of one of your coconut trees (including young and mature coconuts) per year?
______nuts per week/month/year (= …………per year: interviewer calculate)
79. Do you or members of your household replant coconut trees? If so how often?
a) Yes b) No
If yes, How often do they plant them ______(weekly/monthly/once a year)
How many trees do they plant each time?______(per week/month/year)
SECTION C: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE
80. What is your main means of transport?
Number 1 for main means of transport, 5 for least common means of transport, and x for not used.
Please Transport How often do you use it Amount spent per put a per week/month week/month number (interviewer to calculate (interviewer to calculate or a per month and enter) per month and enter) “x” Drive own vehicle
Drive friend or relative’s vehicle
Bus
Carrier/van
Walk
Taxi
Outboard powered boat
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Bicycle
Motorbike
Other:
Other:
81. How much money does your household spend in total on transport per week?
$______per week
82. Do you or anyone in your household own a car or motorbike? If yes, how many of each?
a) Yes car (how many)______b) Yes motorbike (how many)______c) No
83. How much money does your household spend on petrol for your car/motorbike(s) per week?
$______per week
84. Which of the following energy sources do you use in your household? Please also provide the information requested in the other columns
Fuel type Please rate: What do you use On how many days Amount spent 1= use the it for? is it used each per week? most, (Cooking, week ? 5 = use the lighting, least appliances, farming etc)
Community diesel generator
Private diesel generator
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Fiji Electricity Authority
Kerosene
Firewood
Gas
Benzene
Premix
Other
85. How many hours a day do you or members of your household use energy in your house?
a) Less than 1 hour b) Between 1 and 3 hours c) More than 3 hours (if more – how many hours ?)
86. Does your household have any of the following electrical appliances (tick all that apply):
a) TV b) Radio c) Refrigerator d) Computer e) Other appliances (please list)______
87. How much money does your household spend on energy/fuel use per month?
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$______per month (please estimate)
88. How do you and the members of your household spend evening time when electricity supply is not available? (Please list all tasks and activities.)
______
______
______
89. What time do you and the members of your household usually go to sleep at night?
At: ______pm
90. What type(s) of social and cultural commitments does your household spend money on? (please tick as many as appropriate.)
a) None b) Church donations c) Village/community commitments d) Family commitments e) Other (please explain): ______
91. In total, approximately how much money does your household spend on social, religious and/or cultural commitments per month?
$______per month (please estimate).
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SECTION D: HEALTH AND EDUCATION
92. How frequently do you visit a hospital/health centre over the course of a year? (Either as a patient or accompanying someone else).
a) More than once a week b) Every couple of months c) Every half year d) Yearly e) Never
93. For what purpose do you usually visit the hospital/health centre?
a) For check-ups or vaccines for children b) For pregnancy services c) For check-ups for myself d) Only for emergencies e) Other, please explain ______
94. What mode of transport do you use to travel to the nearest hospital/health centre?
a) Walk b) Drive own car c) Driven in someone else's car d) Motorbike e) Ambulance f) Taxi g) Bicycle h) Other, please explain ______
95. In the transportation you use, how long does it take you to travel to the nearest hospital/health centre?
a) Under 5 minutes b) 5 minutes to 1/2 hour c) 1/2 hour to 1 hour d) Over 1 hour: How long ? ………………
96. In the transportation you use, how much does it cost you to get to the nearest hospital/health centre?
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a) Less than $1 b) $1-$5 c) $5-$10 d) More than $10. How much ?......
97. What type of road do you use to get to the hospital/health centre? Tar seal/Gravel/Dirt
98. How do the children in your household travel to school?
a) Walk b) Drive/driven in own household’s car c) Driven in someone else's car d) Motorbike e) Taxi f) Bicycle g) Other, please explain ______
99. In the transportation they use, how long does it take for your children to travel to school?
a) Under 5 minutes b) 5 minutes to 1/2 hour c) 1/2 hour to 1 hour d) Over 1 hour: How long ?......
100. In the transportation they use, how much does it cost for your children to get to school each day?
$______per day (please estimate).
101. What type of road do you use to get to the School? Tarseal/Gravel/Dirt
SECTION E: LIVING CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
102. Dwelling walls made of:
a) corrugated iron b) wooden/bamboo
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c) concrete (cement) d) other (specify)……………………………………………………….. 103. Dwelling Roof made of:
a) thatch b) corrugated iron c) wooden/bamboo d) concrete (cement) e) other (specify)……………………………………………………….. 104. Lighting facility:
a) kerosene lamp b) benzene lamp c) own generator d) village generator e) main power supply (FEA) f) solar g) other (specify)……………………………………………………….. 105. Toilet Facility:
a) Water-sealed flush type inside/outside b) Pit toilet inside/outside c) Other (Specify):…………………………………………..
106. How is sewage disposed of?
a) Septic tank b) Pit toilet system c) River d) Connected to public mains e) Other, please describe:……………………..
107. Where do you get your drinking water?
a) Water pipe (inside house) b) Water pipe (outside house) c) Tank d) Well e) River f) Others (specify) ………………………………………………………..
108. Do you know where the water comes from (e.g. river, government reservoir, bore)?
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If yes, state here:……………………………………………………………………
109. How do you make a phone call when you need to? (please tick all that apply)
a) Home landline b) Mobile phone c) Shared community phone d) Public phone booth e) Other, please explain______
110. What type of road do you use on a daily basis?
a) Tar-sealed b) Gravel c) Dirt d) Other, please explain:______
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