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More than 15 rural communities��will have better access to safe, clean drinking water thanks to ����̽��Fiji's Project AQUA.��The initiative��supports BAT’s objective to advance sustainable agriculture practices and enhance the livelihoods of rural farming communities.

In addition to its 145 permanent employees, ����̽��Fiji creates additional employment opportunities for a further 1,100 people and works with 500 local farmers. ����̽��works side-by-side with the community to provide training, expertise and machinery for best-practice rotation.

Since the tobacco farms are on the dry side of the island, it is difficult for the farming communities to access clean, safe water.

“When there is no water in the village, the women have to take the children and the buckets to the river to source water for cooking,” said local resident, Taniela Nacalucalu.

Project AQUA involves drilling boreholes and installing water tanks and connections in communities close to BAT’s tobacco farming regions. Since the project launched, in June 2018, eight boreholes have been installed and an additional seven will be completed in 2019.