The Committee on Better Utilization of Land has been able to discuss the renewal of 1,199 land leases which expired over the last decade.

Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama told cabinet that the Taskforce teams were to facilitate the renewal of 3,618 ALTA cane leases of which 2,252 expired within 1997 to 2007 and a further 1,366 would expire by 2010.

Bainimarama said the renewal of the balance of 1,053 leases will be covered during the consultations currently underway and after indications from landowners, it is clear that most of the ALTA leases will be renewed.

The interim Prime Minister said the positive response for lease renewal by the Landowning units is largely attributed to the incentive package offered by government and realization by landowners that they currently do not have the knowledge and skills to be engaged in productive cane farming.

Meanwhile, the interim cabinet has decided that the grant for new Farmers under the Farming Assistance Scheme will be increased from $10,000 to $15,000 after Bainimarama told Cabinet that the inadequacy of the $10,000 allocation was highlighted during consultation by the Committee on Better Utilization of Land. He said increasing it will be meaningful to new farmers and that a further $8.5 million will be provided under the scheme to meet all premium payments for leases that expired and will expire in the next 5 years.