ASSISTANT Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Sakiusa Tubuna is urging iTaukei communities to move away from their heavy reliance on kerosene, especially in traditional ceremonies and village households.
Speaking in Parliament this week, Mr Tubuna said Fiji faced increasing pressure from the impact of escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.
He said communities needed to look at alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on kerosene.
“Of course, the Minister for iTaukei Affairs (Iferemi Vasu) has to come up with some regulation to prohibit the use of kerosene in most of our traditional ceremonies,” Mr Tubuna said.
“We need to promote handicrafts that can be used that will replace kerosene, utilising the local resources that we have, and of course, enhancing the livelihoods in our communities.
“There was once a stove that was used using sawdust.
“These technologies need to be brought back and promoted in our village.”
He said another challenge faced by villages was the lack of firewood, adding that specific tree species should be introduced to support household energy needs.
Mr Tubuna also proposed the promotion of pig farming as another possible source of household energy in villages across Fiji.
He said this could allow communities to capture biogas for domestic use.
“Relating to energy, there should also be the promotion of pig farming.
“It should be intensified so that pig gas could be captured and used by the communities, so that they can use it for their household use.”
Mr Tubuna said such measures would help communities rely more on local resources while also supporting livelihoods in villages.
