The iTaukei Land Trust Board has reiterated that the non-renewal of a dairy lease at Sawakasa, Tailevu is because landowners wanted their land back.
In a statement, the TLTB mentioned it had provided a new dairy lease to the existing tenant, but with a reduced farm size. It said these parcels of land with non-renewal of leases had been reserved to ensure landowners’ support and maintenance.
The TLTB stated that this was the only land for this landowning unit who had never used it for more than 100 years.
“TLTB has a renewal rate of 82 per cent – 85 per cent for expired agricultural leases since 1997, out of a total of 13,125 leases that expired in that period, 10,255 were renewed and 2566 were not renewed.
“The non-renewals were due to three main reasons: the tenants have not cultivated the land and owed rent arrears; the land is needed by other economic sectors that attract a much higher rate of return to the landowners in terms of premium and rent; and the land is needed for landowners’ support and maintenance.
“Among others, these are issues that are statutory obligations of TLTB to consider in the best interest of the landowners and other economic sectors.”
TLTB said some 1777 agriculture leases were expiring between 2023 and 2030 with rental arrears totaling $1,859,291.31 and urged tenants to observe their lease terms and conditions and to clear rent arrears and productively use the land.
“From 2024-2028, 178 out of 843 expiring cane leases have been renewed (25 to new incoming tenants, 16 has been subdivided, 15 reverted to the landowners), and 703 in process. TLTB said it had tried to balance land usage and access with the land needs of other sectors and the landowners, however, it must be understood that its role and mandate was clearly set out by law as trustees and custodian for the iTaukei landowners.
“TLTB urges tenants to visit TLTB offices to make arrangement for part payments for certain agreed periods if they are finding difficulty in paying rent arrears and new lease consideration for a certain agreed period.
“Rent arrears and/or not using the land productively disqualifies tenants from lease renewals.”
TLTB said the major challenge now was the low productivity per leasehold and yield rate per hectare for cane leases.
