JSC: Probe land bobol

The report also urged a sensitisation programme for staff of the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure awareness of the malpractices that exist in the allocation of State lands.

They urged the establishment of an Accelerated Land Distribution Programme Unit to clear the backlog of applications for agricultural land.

Saying that if farmers don’t have tenure for land they can’t access State incentives nor attract foreign investment.

While only 20 percent of food consumption is from local production, the report lamented that of this 20 percent some 80 percent was produced by farmers who lack tenure.

The report also bemoaned that at present there is no system in place to ensure that State lands assigned for agriculture are in fact being used for that purpose. The Agricultural society expressed grave concern regarding the amount of arable land being used for other industries and housing.

The report also urged the establishment of a new Land Management Agency to cut the time to grant leases, ensure proper oversight of allocation to competing sectors and ensure continuity in land administration and management practices.