GOVERNMENT will not lease your land because the sandalwood you plant belongs to you.
Minister for Forestry Osea Naiqamu highlighted this to the villages of Wainibuka in the province of Tailevu during his tour today.
This tour is part of Government’s aim to plant 4 million trees in 4 years which began in the Western division in January.
Mr Naiqamu was not only talking with the villagers but went the extra mile by planting sandalwood as well.
He encouraged he men and women in the villages to plant sandalwood on their vacant land as it is the best investment for their children and grandchildren.
He cautioned them if they want to plant sandalwood on mataqali land they should seek the consent of 60 percent of the mataqali members or landowning unit.
“It is vital to have a written agreement on who will share in the income gain during harvesting in order to avoid differences within the mataqali in the future,” said Mr Naiqamu
