Historically insignificant in indigenous Fijian communities,
there has been a sudden and dramatic increase in the demand
for Soga thatch from the tourism industry to provide a ‘traditional
bure’ look (Fig. 3) which has increased exponentially
over the past 10 years. Currently, shingles which are
Soga leaflets folded over a c.a.1 m length of bamboo are the
standard thatching method (Fig. 4c), and are sold exclusively
to the tourism industry as local communities prefer to
use corrugated iron in the construction of village houses.
Shingles used to sell for $0.80 to $2.00 each, mainly to
middle men who supply resorts directly or to contractors for the tourism industry. In 2010, the price has risen to between
$3–5 per shingle, because of the lack of supply and an
increased awareness of the value of the Soga thatch industry
by Soga landowners. Shingles generally last 4–5 years
before needing replacement and may need to be replaced
more frequently after cyclones or periods of extended bad
weather. The current value of the thatch industry is estimated
to be FJ$3 million annually and provides cash income
opportunities for approximately 300 participants, mainly
women in rural villages (NFMV 2008d).