The Native Land Trust Board has today stressed that no native land reserves can be de-reserved without the approval of the mataqali.
This follows revelations that the report by a consultant from India, Doctor M Krishnamurti who has been appointed to the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji, has recommended all native land to be de-reserved.
NLTB spokesperson, Ro Alipate Mataitini said while the report is just a proposal which will be discussed by the newly formed Committee for Better Utilization of Land soon, the NLTB makes it very clear that no native land can be de-reserved without the consent of majority of the landowners.
The native reserve is the land set aside for each mataqali for its planting and to support the landowning unit's needs.
The reserved land is not to be leased out as it is arable land for the mataqali's needs.
Doctor Krishnamurti's report has recommended that 4 hectare lot for cane farming is uneconomical and 40 to 400 hectare farms are more viable. He also recommends that all investments on the proposed farms be carried out by the lessee and the lease terms be a minimum of 75 years.
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Land Owners Say Needed-NLTB
