My paternal side originates from the village of Mua, District of Batiki, an island in Fiji in the Province of Lomaiviti. My maternal side originates from Naikeleyaga Village, in the District of Kabara in the Lau Island archipelago spanning the eastern maritime boundary of Fiji. I was part of the pioneer program of the Trade Diploma in Agroforestry that rolled out in 2013, and graduated in 2015. After a year, I enrolled for my Bachelors degree in Forestry. Into my 4th month at the Ministry of Forestry in the Divisional Office in Labasa, I was fortunate to be given a spot as Assistant Youth Officer in the Ministry of Youth and Sports. I worked for one year at the Central Division before being posted to the Northern Division serving the youths of Cakaudrove for two years. While juggling with work, and my small family, the prospect of pursuing Masters studies was always a priority and a dream to achieve.

I have confidence that through my research, I will enhance innovative ideas and concepts that will positively be accepted and contribute to the livelihoods of my small community and my country as a whole. The research aims at assessing how forests and trees on farms [Tree Based Farming] improve farmer livelihoods compared to conventional farming systems using the five capitals for sustainable livelihoods (Social, Financial, Natural, Human, Physical).

• Conventional Farming - Sigatoka
• Tree Based Farming - Taveuni

Masters of Science by Research
Project Title: Forests, trees and agroforestry for supporting rural livelihoods in Fiji.

ACIAR Project -SSS/2019/140
Landcare: An agricultural extension and community development model at district and national scale in Fiji.

Supervisors: Dr. Shipra Shah, Dr William Kerua and Dr Salesh Kumar, FNU

ACIAR Co-Supervisor: Dr Mary Johnson, RMIT

Click here for more information (available on the ACIAR website).

Twitter: @Lily Qaranivalu Draunitivi
LinkedIn: Lily Qaranivalu Draunitivi
ORCiD: 0009-0007-1141-0522