Farmers in the rural community of Howick are set to benefit from a first-of-its-kind agricultural unit that has been established by the uMngeni Municipality. R600 000 has been made available so far to help small-scale farmers in what the municipality calls the “first phase of interventions” to assist farmers in the area.
The move by the municipality has been welcomed by organised agriculture and farmer union representatives.
Mayor Christopher Pappas says that the agricultural unit, established in the local economic development directorate in order to assist farmers, was sparked by the unemployment rate in the municipality and the important role that agriculture plays in the economy.
“Agriculture is one of the main economic activities in the uMngeni municipal area, both commercial and small scale. There is potential to create jobs and to stimulate economic activity while ensuring that we have food security in the area,” he says.
According to Pappas, supporting small-scale farmers is the first phase of their interventions.
“In future, we also aspire to provide support to commercial farmers. In the next financial year, we will establish a programme to support home gardens.”
Six farmers assisted to date
The programme allows farmers to access unused municipal land as well as help from the municipality in preparing the land for food production. Assistance offered by the agricultural unit, however, excludes operational costs and the purchasing of tractors, the municipality says.
“Already we have assisted six farmers with ploughing their fields since around mid-July. There are another eight [prepared fields] planned before the year ends. We are starting with those [who farm on] between 0.5 and 10 hectares of land,” Pappas explains.
Farmers need to apply for unused land within the municipality’s jurisdiction and are then considered based on the sustainability of their farms.
Meanwhile, an incentive policy has been approved to encourage commercial farmers to lease land to small-scale farmers.
The municipality also intends to approach the Amakhosi tribal councils on possible partnerships which they hope will see land owned by the Ingonyama Trust being made available to small-scale food producers.
A welcome move
Black Farmers’ Association of South Africa president Dr Lennox Mtshagi says the organisation welcomes the initiative by the municipality. He cautions, however, against the potential dangers of misuse.
“The initiative is good, but in future, can the municipality approach organised agriculture? We know who farmers are, who are not and who needs assistance [while] a councillor in the ward might not know all the people who need assistance.
“We appreciate the effort that the municipality is doing and call on them to open discussions with us as farming structures so that we can lead them in the right direction,” he says.
Mtshagi also calls on authorities to monitor the project to avoid corruption.
Ahead of its peers
Meanwhile, Motsepe Matlala, president of the National African Farmers Union of South Africa, believes the uMngeni Municipality should be congratulated for taking such “a progressive stance on agriculture”.
“While we celebrate this move by the municipality, we call on government to capacitate the municipalities across the country, especially in farming areas, because where there is capacity, we will see a curb in corruption.”
He hopes that skilled people with knowledge and a track record in agricultural activities will be appointed to head similar agricultural units when they are established in local municipalities. Extension officers also need to play an important role, Matlala says.
Motsepe adds that there is a great need for a paradigm shift on how land reform and agriculture are treated in the country.
“We want to see other municipalities doing the same as uMngeni, giving out the land.
“There [also] needs to be engagement between municipalities and farmers to talk about production of that land and access to markets of the produce. While we call on the releasing of land [in other municipalities as well], we also say the land must be released with a business and economic-driven approach to assist every community member.”
ALSO READ: ‘Create space for more small commercial farmers
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
