$17 Million Returned to Landowners Through Land Bank

More than $17 million has been disbursed to landowning units through Fiji’s Land Bank, with Lands Minister Filimoni Vosarogo highlighting the scheme as a means of ensuring landowners receive the economic benefits generated from their land.

Vosarogo says 131 land parcels covering more than 12,000 hectares have been deposited into the Land Bank.

Of this, 110 landowning units have contributed more than 11,000 hectares, alongside State and buyback land parcels.

A key feature of the arrangement is that 100 percent of lease proceeds are returned to the respective landowning units.

Vosarogo said every dollar generated from leasing their land goes back to the traditional landowners, describing this as economic empowerment and a way for communities to receive the maximum possible return from their land.

Government also meets surveying and valuation costs and assists in identifying potential investors and facilitating the leasing process.

Interest in the initiative is continuing, with another 17 landowning units expressing interest this year in depositing their land through the Land Bank.

The figures highlight the growing role of the Land Bank in connecting landowners with investment opportunities while ensuring the financial returns from leases flow back to the communities that own the land.