Fiji Ministry to focus on young farmers and women to boost land use

The Ministry of Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry in Fiji is set to prioritize support for young farmers and women in the upcoming financial year. This strategic focus aims to tackle the persistent issue of underutilized agricultural land across the nation.

Minister for Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna announced that the Ministry will bolster the "Committee for Better Utilisation of Land" (CBUL) program. This initiative is designed to provide subsidized lease premium payments, particularly benefiting farmers whose land leases are nearing expiration. The program has been allocated $6.9 million to facilitate these subsidies.

"We have the CBUL programme, which is more than six million dollars. That’s going to top up the leases to landowners, so that they will continue to allow lessees to use their lands," Tunabuna explained. The Ministry intends to ensure that landowners receive fair and reasonable payments through the lease program. Simultaneously, it aims to maintain strong relationships and understanding with farmers to support the renewal of future leases.

By enhancing support for these demographics and ensuring equitable land use agreements, the Ministry hopes to maximize the productivity of available agricultural land and foster growth within the sector.

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We have the CBUL programme, which is more than six million dollars. That’s going to top up the leases to landowners, so that they will continue to allow lessees to use their lands.