Emerging farmers to use municipal land

„ STELLENBOSCH

STELLENBOSCH Municipality is empowering farmers to start farming on municipal agricultural land. The land was previously underutilised and will now be turned into productive farmland that will create opportunities and jobs.

The first five contracts to farmers were handed over by Stellenbosch mayor Gesie van Deventer and mayco member for rural management and tourism Salie Peters. The contracts are leases for between nine and 11 years with the option to renew should the land be used productively.

Van Deventer said: “The handing over of the first five contracts to farmers shows our administration’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for farming enterprises, especially for emerging farmers historically excluded from economic opportunities.

“Our goal is to enable emerging farmers to access municipal agricultural land and to ensure the optimal use of every patch of available agricultural land within the Stellenbosch municipal area.”

Municipal communications manager Stuart Grobbelaar said: “The total size of the municipal agricultural land being leased to the five farmers is approximately 120 hectares.

“The successful applicants were selected following a detailed evaluation process during which experience in farming or agriculture, their business plan and their financial readiness were evaluated.”

The names of the first five successful farmers announced to the council are: Jeremy van Niekerk, Elsenburg Khoisan, Bradley Cortereal, Hylton Arendse and Christie Jacobs.

Grobbelaar said: “The municipality will ensure necessary infrastructure such as electricity supply and water are in place for these emerging farmers.” |