As the whole of Mzani takes turns criticising President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), so are members of the agricultural sector expressing their disappointment in Ramaphosa’s Sona speech. The latest is that land reform was not mentioned once during this year’s Sona.
According to Peter Setou, chief executive of the Vumelana Advisory Fund, land reform should remain a priority government imperative.
“It is a fundamental part of the economy and prerequisite element to addressing South Africa’s history of land dispossession and the subsequent challenges that the country currently faces,” he said.
Vumelana assists in levelling up land reform beneficiaries. The support these beneficiaries get helps them to eventually participate in the commercial farming sector and attract investors.
According to the fund, the government should make more obvious moves in building a collaborative approach to land reform beneficiaries, an approach that will connect them to the private investors which are supported by the state.
They also wish the government would assist land reform beneficiaries with attracting investment from the private sector.
“This is what is required if we are to address the challenges facing us as a country. Our experience as Vumelana has demonstrated that collaborative approaches can make a huge impact in addressing land reform challenges,” Setou said.
Great news for small-scale farmers
Vumelana welcomed Ramaphosa’s positive announcements regarding support for small-scale farmers, including the supply of input vouchers for seeds, fertiliser, and equipment to 140 000 farmers to boost food security and agricultural reform on over 640 000 hectares of land owned by women.
“Further, we note that 250 000 more vouchers will be distributed to small-scale farmers this year.
“We also note the government’s commitment to addressing regulations that inhibit the cultivation of certain crops to allow outdoor cultivation and harvesting by traditional farmers, which will help boost the rural economy; as will the commitment to improve rural road infrastructure and build bridges to enhance village life,” Setou explained.
However, for land reform to be effective, Setou said there is a need for much more resourcing and funding of post-settlement support for land reform beneficiaries.
Nonetheless, the fund is happy with the government’s interest in resolving the country’s energy crisis, and Setou hopes the impending budget speech will provide some pointers on the government’s plans towards supporting land reform.
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