Mzansi’s tired agri-parks model deserves a second chance at life, according to agri minister Thoko Didiza. Didiza admitted recently that many of the country’s agri-parks are in a bad state and she is determined to see the initiative revived.
The national minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development was speaking during engagement sessions with women in agriculture and agro-processing in North West, and said that an efficient agri-parks model could break down the silos within government and address the plight of women in the sector.
The agri-parks model was launched in 2015 to establish farmer-centric agricultural hubs within district municipalities. The aim was to create central points where farmers could access the guidance of extension officers, processing and storage facilities and the necessary infrastructure to get their products to surrounding markets.
When launched, the agri-parks were expected to contribute to government’s targets of creating one million new jobs in rural economies by 2030: 300 000 for new small-scale farmers and 145 000 agro-processing jobs. These jobs were supposed to be created by 2019, but parliament’s portfolio committee on agriculture, land reform and rural development heard last year that of the 44 agri-parks throughout South Africa, many were in a terrible state.
Rural industrialisation, anchored in agricultural production
Speaking at the North West event, Didiza said that the agri-parks model was a flagship programme. Through these hubs, agricultural production could be the anchor for rural industrialisation.
“We have segmented the programme in the following manner: a farmer service centre stimulating cultivation or grazing within a 30 km radius; a storage facility; processing; and marketing.
“This programme may have not taken root, but we are working to reignite it once more. This approach will also break down the silo approach within government,” she said.
Didiza added that the programme will assist in developing women in the agriculture sector and agribusiness.
“In order for agriculture to succeed in any country, we need an enabling agriculture policy and legislation that is gender sensitive, [as well as] land, water, finances, infrastructure and information.”
‘Maybe this time it will work’
Meanwhile, access to land and a lack of adequate support for women-led farms are some of the concerns that North West farmers highlighted during Didiza’s visit.
A local livestock farmer, Dimakatso Issacs, told Food For Mzansi that government needed to do more than promising what they could not deliver. “If the minister can try to help us as women to have farms… That will be better. All government leaders come through and promise a lot of things, but we have not seen those promises coming through.
“On the issue of agri-parks, I think we should give them a chance to see if this model is working or not. Maybe this time the model will work. We should be giving them the benefit of the doubt,” she said.
Issacs added that, although she has not personally benefited from government assistance, she was sure that government was helping others. She urged government officials, however, to do more as the need for help was high among the women in the province.
“These are women in the most rural places in the province, struggling and who cannot afford feeding their livestock. It is not like we want to be spoon fed. We just need a boost to continue where we are failing.”
Transparency required
Naomi Huma, the province’s youth coordinator of the African Farmer’s Association of South Africa (Afasa), said that the most pressing challenges for North West’s women in farming was access to markets, material, awareness on different subjects and financial support.
“Honestly, there is support given but it is limited to the same farmers year after year. Farmer support programmes are also made available, but not enough to accommodate more of our female farmers.”
Huma said government needed to “stretch themselves a little bit more” and reach out to many other female farmers who have not been supported in their farming journey yet.
She urged transparency from government officials when doing projects such as the agri-parks.
“The agri-park model is a good model, but it depends on who will be working within the agri-park and [whether it] will benefit surrounding areas. And, importantly, we need to know the criteria that will be used to select beneficiaries and what commodities the agri-park will focus on. I think in that way more female farmers will be prepared to participate.”
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