NORTHERN ENGAGEMENT STRENGTHENS LANDOWNER CAPACITY ACROSS VANUA LEVU
September 24, 2026NORTHERN REGION ARREARS AWARENESS DRIVE
September 24, 2026
The iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) wishes to clarify that recent media reports concerning the non-renewal of agricultural rice farm leases in Korokadi, Bua, are inaccurate and misleading.
The claims made in the news report aired by FBC News on 9 September 2026, are false and do not reflect the facts surrounding the lease renewal process.
TLTB conducted a verification of lease records for the Korokadi land area to establish the current status of Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Act (ALTA) lease renewals. The review found that there are 41 ALTA leases within the Korokadi area, with only five leases scheduled to expire between 2025 and 2035.
TLTB’s verification confirmed that consultations with the affected landowning units, Mataqali Raraelevu and Mataqali Tikinaicake of Votua Village, Bua, were successfully undertaken in 2025 to obtain their position on the renewal of the affected leases.
Of the five leases due to expire during this period:
· Four leases have received landowner consent for renewal.
· One lease was not approved for renewal due to non-compliance with lease conditions, specifically the non-cultivation of the leased land and the existence of outstanding lease arrears.
The findings do not support claims of widespread non-renewal of rice farm leases within the Korokadi area. In fact, 80 per cent of the leases due to expire between 2025 and 2035 have already received landowner consent for renewal, demonstrating the continued cooperation between landowners, tenants and TLTB.
While most lease renewal applications in Korokadi have progressed positively, any decision to withhold renewal will be based on legitimate considerations, including compliance with lease obligations. TLTB encourages tenants to continue engaging with the Board and to comply with their lease conditions to support the sustainability and productivity of agricultural land.
TLTB remains committed to ensuring that lease renewals are processed in a fair, transparent and consultative manner that respects the rights and interests of both landowners and tenants.