The Committee for Better Utilisation for Land (CBUL) is preparing a cabinet paper to propose to Government to extend the term of the committee for another three years.

The CBUL was an initiative set up by the Bainimarama Government to assist the farmers in the agricultural areas especially sugarcane farmers whose land lease had expired.

The Commissioner Western, Manasa Tagicakibau, who also sits on the board, said the three years term for the committee expires in June this year.

He said the committee met yesterday to draft the Cabinet Paper.

“We will show on the Cabinet Paper that for the past three years, there were a lot of positives generated by the Committee in terms of land being given for leases for agriculture purposes,” he said.

Mr Tagicakibau said back in the 90’s, most of the landowners did not renew the land leases with the understanding they will toil the land but was left ideal.

“CBUL was set up to discuss with landowners to work on the land,” he said.

“The committee was set up to discuss with the landowners its better they work on the land, and if they are not going to, at least give the land for lease so farmers can make the land more productive.”

Mr Tagicakibau said CBUL will be good for our sugar industry and the overall economy, but the mandate for the committee will expire in June this year.

Mr Tagicakibau added that he will deliberate more on the matter on a later date.

The meeting was held in Lautoka yesterday.

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