Insecurity of tenure hinders farm productivity

This year as we celebrate Women’s Month, much more thought must be given to women who live and work on farms. Most are living in inhumane conditions and their tenure is insecure.

According to a report by Wikigender, an online platform that shares information to advance gender equality, one of the most serious obstacles to increasing the agricultural productivity and income of rural women is their lack of security of tenure. This despite the fact that women farmers are responsible for 60%-80% of food production in developing countries. This shows that despite the obstacles, women are more than capable of making the world a better place for all.

In recognising the plight of farm dwellers, particularly women, the tenure implementation systems unit within the Gauteng provincial shared service centre of the department of rural development & land reform, embarked on an Extension of Security of Tenure Act roadshow in Bronkhorstspruit, Tshwane. The act provides for security of tenure by regulating conditions of stay and occupation on farms by occupiers and further regulates conditions in which an occupier may be evicted.

The roadshow informed farm dwellers in the neighbouring farms of their rights when faced with eviction. They were also given a toll-free number to call and told of the legal avenues that the department has made available for them if they are evicted.

I say big up to the act for arming the government with a weapon to fight for the poor.

“Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo.” Themba Mzula Hleko , Pretoria