The Chief Executive Officer of the iTaukei Lands Trust Board, Tevita Kuruvakadua says since the SEED Fund Grants began in 2017, more than 130 landowners and landowning units have benefited from it.

Kuruvakadua says to ensure that the funds are properly used they encourage the payments through a third party to avoid any mismanagement.

He also says that they only give a certain portion of the grants as cash to the recipients if there is a labour cost involved.

He adds they also have officers on the ground after three to six months to verify the projects.

Meanwhile, 56 iTaukei landowners and landowning groups will share from $500,000 that has been allocated for the 2019 SEED Fund Grants through the iTaukei Land Trust Board.

The money for these grants comes from the profit that was made by TLTB.

Kuruvakadua says the SEED program works in a way that the TLTB advertises the initiative and whoever is interested can apply with all the required documents.

He says their staff go out and inspect and refer it to the TLTB and an independent committee vets the applications.