The iTaukei Land Trust Board says parts of cane farming land in Seaqaqa have been subdivided into residential and commercial lots as part of efforts to improve land use and generate higher returns for the landowners.
This comes as cane farmers in Seaqaqa and Labasa have told fijivillage News that about 40 leases have not been renewed.
TLTB has assured cane farmers in Seaqaqa and Natua in mid-April to meet farmers and landowners to address their concerns and clarify issues regarding their leases.
While responding to questions to fijivillage News in a statement, the TLTB says regional managers and staff are working hard to balance tenants' and landowners’ needs.
They say for the period 2025 to 2035, there are 602 cane leases that have expired or will expire and of these leases, 440 or 75 percent have been renewed, including 140 early renewals and 8 with reduced areas.
TLTB says 32 leases reverted to the landowners for use, support, and maintenance, or for the landowners to lease themselves and eight leases will be subdivided for higher-return use, while the remaining 116 leases are still in the team's process.
They say in Vunivere in Seaqaqa, Hirday Narayan's case, Narayan is the caretaker for TLTB's tenant, Kamal Narayan Sharma, who applied to renew the lease.
TLTB says the renewal process requires surrendering the original lease but the original lease document is currently held by Fiji Development Bank as collateral for a loan and FDB has provided an undertaking to surrender the lease.
They say however, at the time of this release, the original lease has not been submitted.
In Mohammed Rafiq's case they say the tenant is Bejarai and the land lies within the periphery of Seaqaqa Township and has been subdivided into 13 residential lots and 2 commercial lots.
They say leases under the iTaukei Land Trust Act have been issued as rental returns under the Agricultural Landlord Tenant Act, and these returns are very low compared to those under TLTA leases.
TLTB says the tenant, Bejarai, was given a residential lease over the house site.
For Navutu cane farmer Girja Nand, who is the caretaker for Indar Deo and Prem Sushil as the tenant, they say the land is within the periphery of the Seaqaqa Township and has been subdivided into residential lots.
They say the tenant was issued a residential block and has paid $4,500 out of the $18,552 total lease offer.
TLTB says a notice was issued to him, advising him to continue paying the full amount prior to a new 99-year lease while in 80-year-old Daya Wati's case, the lease expired in 2023 and one of the landowners is interested in leasing the land; hence, 3.4 acres were issued for subsistence farming.
While responding to the 4 cases highlighted by fijivillage News, TLTB says what transpired in these cases was in the best interest of the landowners, who, for 50 years, are now able to use their land to support their livelihoods and/or yield better returns for residential/commercial uses.
TLTB says they proactively consider lease renewal 10 years before the expiry date and stresses that agricultural lease renewals depend on certain key factors such as compliance with rental payment obligations and lease arrears, whether the lease was used productively or other purposes, what the highest and best use would be for future use, whether the land will be needed by the landowners for their use, maintenance and support due to increasing numbers, landowners interest to lease such land, land needed for higher return purpose such as residential, commercial, tourism, etc.
They highlight that if an agricultural lease is not renewed, TLTB offers the tenant a 99-year residential lease for their house site, subject to payment of a premium and rent to avoid eviction.
The Board says tenants also have the right to claim compensation under the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Act if their leases are not renewed and where tenants face payment difficulties, TLTB facilitates part payment by agreement.
TLTB also says low cane productivity is not due solely to non-lease renewal as overall, lease renewal has been around 85 percent, hence there is more than ample land to support the cane required by the three mills.
They say the biggest challenges now are the low yield rate per hectare on cane farms, at around 40 to 60 tonnes per hectare, and nonproductive or idle farms, which comprise around 30 percent.
The Board says all efforts must now focus on productive farms that achieve at least a 50 percent increase in yield per hectare.
TLTB is also urging authorities to expedite the review of the ALTA Unimproved Capital Value and conclude it.
They say by law, the review of UCV should be conducted on a 5-year cycle but the last review was in 2011, with missed reviews in 2016 and 2021, despite follow-ups from TLTB.
The Board says as a result, landowners have been deprived of rent for quite some time that properly reflects up-to-date UCV values.
They stress that supporting the economy as a land provider is vital.
However, they say of equal significance is the due consideration of the landowner’s interest in being provided opportunities to use their own land and to participate in commercial pursuits with better returns.
They say for decades, landowners have demonstrated profound goodwill by allowing their land to be leased by others to realise their aspirations for better livelihoods and well-being.
TLTB says it is only fair that landowners receive a fair and equitable return for the use of their land.
