Monitoring land use is crucial, says TLTB – FBC News

The iTaukei Land Trust Board stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement in land use, as well as monitoring and implementation of land-use plans in various sectors such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Chief Executive Officer Solomoni Nata, while addressing stakeholders at the TLTB meeting, proposed the development planning for Viti Levu to stakeholders, stating that these sectors play a key role in the success of the master development plan which aims to maximize the potential of land resources in a sustainable manner.

One of the main challenges identified by Nata is that although landowners own the land, they often lack the capital and organized planning needed to use it effectively.

To address this problem, the TLTB established the government-backed Itaukei Welfare Fund, which for the first time allocates 10% of the TLTB’s income to the welfare of landowners.

“We are currently distributing money, I mean capital, to landowners under the Itaukee Development Fund. So this aid is basically small and covers agriculture, livestock, gravel mining, economic activities such as tourism and even commercial land development.”

This fund serves to provide capital to landowners through the Itaukee Development Fund, offering grants ranging from small amounts such as $5,000 to larger sums up to $1.5 million.

These funds are intended for projects in agriculture, animal husbandry, gravel mining, tourism and commercial land development.

This initiative marks a new beginning for TLTB and landowners, offering not only a comprehensive master plan, but also the necessary financial support for its implementation.

The overarching aim is to enable landowners to make informed decisions about their land, ensuring that its use benefits both the landowners and the wider Fijian economy.