For Fane Raravula, bamboo is more than just a plant. It represents resilience, sustainability, and opportunity for communities across the Pacific. A retired corporate professional turned farmer, Fane has spent nearly two decades advocating for bamboo development and sustainable agriculture, driven by a belief that local communities, especially women and young people can lead the way toward greener and more resilient futures. 

Today, she lives off-grid with her husband on their 35-acre debt-free farm, where they practice integrated farming and experiment with diverse crops. But her journey into bamboo advocacy began years earlier, sparked by a simple observation during a trip to Hong Kong in 2007. 

“I saw bamboo scaffolding everywhere, and I became curious about how such a strong, natural material could be used in construction,” she recalls. “From that moment, my passion for bamboo grew.” 

That passion eventually led her to become actively involved with the Fiji Bamboo Association, where she has spent years advocating for stronger policies, community awareness, and practical training around bamboo cultivation and use. 

Bamboo as a Climate Solution

Ms. Fane believes bamboo remains an underutilized resource despite its enormous potential. She sees it as a critical tool for climate adaptation, sustainable housing, and rural economic development. 

“Bamboo ticks so many boxes in terms of climate resilience and adaptation,” she explains. “It grows quickly, it can support sustainable housing, and it creates opportunities for communities to develop environmentally friendly products and livelihoods.” 

One of the strongest opportunities, she says, lies in community-based housing solutions after natural disasters. With the right training, communities could use bamboo to build transitional homes after cyclones while recovering and rebuilding permanent structures. 

“Every time there’s a cyclone; communities need immediate shelter,” she says. “If people are trained to grow and use bamboo properly, they can build strong transitional homes themselves using local materials.” 

She also sees untapped potential in bamboo charcoal and briquettes as cleaner alternatives for cooking fuel, particularly for women and families during emergencies. 

“Bamboo briquettes are smokeless and environmentally friendly,” she explains. “Women can use them during crises without the harmful smoke affecting their health. We always need a plan B.” 

Empowering Women Through Agriculture

Beyond bamboo advocacy, Fane is deeply committed to empowering women in agriculture and community development. Through her work with women farmers’ networks and grassroots groups, she has seen firsthand how knowledge-sharing and access to opportunities can transform lives. 

“I didn’t know anything about farming when I started,” she admits. “But once you grow something successfully, it inspires you to keep learning and trying new things.” 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, living on the farm became an unexpected learning experience. Isolated from urban life, Fane and her husband learned how to live more sustainably while cultivating herbs, vegetables, and other crops. 

The experience reinforced her belief that agriculture is not only about food security but also about independence and resilience. 

She now uses her education and experience to mentor and support other women farmers, particularly those who may not feel confident speaking up during trainings or community discussions. 

“Many women at the community level have challenges but may not always have the voice or confidence to express them,” she says. “If we can help identify those gaps and connect women to opportunities, grants, and training, we can create real change.” 

Building a Movement for the Next Generation

For Fane, one of the most important goals is inspiring young people to see agriculture and forestry as exciting and meaningful career paths. 

“How do we make agriculture exciting for young people?” She asks. “We need innovative ways to encourage young girls and boys to join the movement and see the value it brings to their communities and future.” 

She believes workshops that bring together farmers, community members, policymakers, and technical experts are critical for building momentum and shared learning. 

No matter how much you know, you can always learn from others,” she says. Reflecting on the Bamboo Cultivation and Management Training and the Bamboo Harvesting and Management Training delivered under the Global Green Growth Institute Fiji Bamboo Project, she adds, “These workshops feel like the beginning of something bigger.” 

Fane hopes the growing network of bamboo advocates will eventually help drive stronger policy support and investment into the sector. She believes communities must play an active role in pushing progress rather than waiting for change to happen. 

“We have such an incredible natural resource,” she says. “Now we need the mindset, collaboration, and political will to take bamboo development to the next level.” 

As communities across the Pacific continue facing the realities of climate change, voices like Fane Raravula’s are helping shape a future grounded in resilience, sustainability, and community-led innovation.