In a joint effort to level up land reform beneficiaries, the Western Cape department of agriculture (WCDoA) and Potatoes South Africa recently signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to grow the potato industry.
According to the head of the WCDoA, Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, the MOU commits both parties to also advance economic growth and increase employment opportunities.
“The MOU undertakes to build capacity, facilitate access to markets, and offer skills development programmes to enable mentorship to land reform beneficiaries within the potato sector,” Sebopetsa said.
Access for land beneficiaries
Potatoes are the most common staple food consumed by most people in South Africa.
This sector employs an average of 55 000 people. The country’s leading producing regions of potatoes are Limpopo, Free State, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape.
Willie Jacobs, CEO of Potatoes SA, welcomed the signing of the MOU and the commitments as a significant step forward for the industry. He further highlighted that the potato industry significantly contributes to South Africa’s fresh produce turnover.
“The potato industry is estimated to contribute at least R6.6 billion to South Africa’s economy and contributes 30-50% of the fresh produce turnover in the country,” Jacobs said.
Paving the way forward
The minister for agriculture in the province, Dr Ivan Meyer, said that his department’s commodity approach is central to the MOU.
“The WCDoA’s commodity approach is a strategy for farmer support across the agricultural value chains. This partnership with commodity organisations such as Potatoes SA strengthens the help rendered to land reform farmers,” Meyer said.
Meyer believes that successful land reform happens when farmers can access natural resources, skills, mentorship, technology, and markets and make money.
READ NEXT: ICYMI: GOSA symposium looks to the future
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
