Land expropriation set to transform sector

WITH land expropriation without compensation set to become a reality and a defining feature for the land reform trajectory in South Africa, the implementation thereof is expected to enable fundamental transformation across the whole agricultural value chain.

A successful land reform programme should bring changes in the economic participation, and empowerment of farmers across the agriculture sector.

This will enable marginalised (no attachments). All letters must contain the writer’s full name, physical address and telephone number. No pen names. groups, blacks in particular, to participate in the economic activities associated with the spin-offs realised in the agricultural sector.

With that said, it is very important to prepare farmers, particularly emerging farmers, to be ready to participate and take advantage of the possibilities that will come with land expropriation.

The Department of Agriculture,

Land Reform and Rural Development in Gauteng province has been leading the way in ensuring that farmers attend various training programmes to capacitate them with new skills and techniques that are important in the agricultural sector.

These put more emphasis on farmers mobilising and establishing co-operatives so that they are able to produce on a large scale in their

districts.

I applaud efforts by smallholder emerging farmers – for taking charge by showing interest in upskilling and acquainting themselves with good agricultural practices so that they can play a meaningful role when the time comes.

The reality is that the status quo should not remain if we all want the challenges facing black producers in the agribusiness sector to change for the better.