Farmers should be allowed to lease a portion of their leased land for other agricultural activities, says Lautoka businessman Anwa Khan.
In a presentation at the land issues consultations this week, Mr Khan said this would make use of idle land.
“Most farmers today have 10 acres or more but they only use about eight acres, especially those planting sugar cane,” said Mr Khan. ”
My request to the Lands Department and TLTB is if people are only cultivating eight or seven acres of land, why can’t they be allowed to rent out two or three acres?
“We should facilitate that for crown land and itaukei land.”
Mr Khan said as a cassava producer, this initiative would allow him to expand his business.
“I plant and also buy cassava from farmers to make locally-produced flour. Cassava is not seasonal and we can use these small portions of land to plant this crop.
“I believe that this is one way we can really allow farmers to diversify their farms.” Mr Khan said a piece of land should be allowed to be leased out to several individuals for agricultural activities instead of it being rented out by a single farmer.
“This ensures that rent is paid and there are several agricultural activities in this one portion of land.”
The public consultations ended in the Western Division on Friday.
