• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle
Partners in Agri Land Solutions (PALS), a private land reform initiative, has been upskilling new farmers from the Thembelihle farming enterprise in Witzenberg, Western Cape, to become successful small commercial producers. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

How PALS is innovating land reform across Mzansi

8th Nov 2021
Beef up your understanding of SA’s red meat industry

Beef up your understanding of SA’s red meat industry

28th Jun 2022
Nanotechnology can improve farming efficiency without the need for new infrastructure. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Tiny nanotech will have a huge impact on agriculture

28th Jun 2022
It is now the second day of the Rural Safety Summit, attended by the police and various agricultural organisations. Photos: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Safety summit: Will it be a turning point?

28th Jun 2022
Reggie Kambule from Villiers in the Free State runs a 185 hectare farm where he breeds livestock and cultivates maize. Photo:Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Engineer-turned farmer takes pride in good results

28th Jun 2022
Malose Mokgotho, president of the South African Agricultural Graduates Organisation, unpacks why agricultural graduates are not finding jobs. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

SAAGA on a mission to speak for exploitable graduates

28th Jun 2022
Rural safety is in the spotlight at a summit currently underway in the Free State. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Rural Safety Summit ‘will fail without action plan’

28th Jun 2022
Reports of the Land Bank’s use of force to allegedly intimidate and liquidate farmers is another instance of the Bank’s lack of empathy, unwillingness and inability to assist commercial and emerging farmers believes South African politician Noko Masipa. Photo: Supplied/AdobeStock

Lack of legislative support threatens SA’s food security

27th Jun 2022
Agripreneur 101: Sweet success for jam producer

Agripreneur 101: Sweet success for jam producer

27th Jun 2022
Real Housewife turns passion for wine into a business

Real Housewife turns passion for wine into a business

27th Jun 2022
On Monday, 20 June 2022, 35 farmworkers were injured when the truck that transported them to work overturned on the R45 between Klapmuts and Simondium in the Cape Winelands. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

‘Inhumane farmworker transport must stop’

27th Jun 2022
MEC Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi visited the Ntathakusa Citrus Farm in eShowe on Friday, 24 June 2022. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

ICYMI: Career boost ahead for KZN agri graduates

27th Jun 2022
This week in agriculture definitely offers a few events worth bookmarking. First up is the Hostex expo, followed by the Tshwane Agri X Engage round table, Food For Mzansi Gather To Grow, a table wine event, and the second African food safety technical meeting. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

This week’s agriculture events: 27 June to 01 July 2022

27th Jun 2022
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
11 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Tue, Jun 28, 2022
Food For Mzansi
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
    • All
    • AgriCareers
    • Entrepreneurs
    • Farmers
    • Groundbreakers
    • Innovators
    • Inspiration
    • It Takes a Village
    • Mentors
    • Movers and Shakers
    • Partnerships
    Reggie Kambule from Villiers in the Free State runs a 185 hectare farm where he breeds livestock and cultivates maize. Photo:Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Engineer-turned farmer takes pride in good results

    Agripreneur 101: Sweet success for jam producer

    Agripreneur 101: Sweet success for jam producer

    Real Housewife turns passion for wine into a business

    Real Housewife turns passion for wine into a business

    David Mthombeni is building an agriculture empire for his family.Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Farmer gets his hands dirty while building family empire

    Gauteng farmers give youth a leg-up in agriculture

    Women in farming give youth a leg up in agriculture

    Watch out, these young farmers are on fire!

    Watch out, these young farmers are on fire!

    Unati Speirs has vast experience in agri-business strategy and business funding and was recently appointed as a new board director for Hortgro. Photos: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Youngest Hortgro hotshot takes transformation to heart

    Prof Kennedy Mnisi a dedicated young man who wants to help livestock farmers with animal health education to prevent diseases. Picture. Supplied/ Food For Mzansi.

    Animal scientist works hard to earn top dog status

    Eastern Cape grain farmer Sinelizwi Fakade told Cyril Ramaphosa that limited access to funding continued to constrain young farmers. The president vowed to return to the province to fully engage with issues raised. Photo:Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Ramaphosa vows to address challenges faced by young farmers

  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
Food For Mzansi

How PALS is innovating land reform across Mzansi

by Nicole Ludolph
8th Nov 2021
in Innovators, Land Reform
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Partners in Agri Land Solutions (PALS), a private land reform initiative, has been upskilling new farmers from the Thembelihle farming enterprise in Witzenberg, Western Cape, to become successful small commercial producers. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Partners in Agri Land Solutions (PALS), a private land reform initiative, has been upskilling new farmers from the Thembelihle farming enterprise in Witzenberg, Western Cape, to become successful small commercial producers. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Land reform has always been a contentious topic on South Africa’s democratic landscape. But, through innovative thinking, Partners in Agri Land Solutions (PALS) fostered a land reform model in the Western Cape that has widely been hailed a success.

Lien Visagie chairperson of Partners in Agri Land Solutions (PALS). Photo: Supplied
Lien Visagie, chairperson of Partners in Agri Land Solutions (PALS). Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

The model, which is a private initiative first launched in 2015, brought together established farmers in the Witzenberg region to assist in mentorship and training of new black farmers. The goal? To ensure economic growth, job creation and social harmony in the region. In the last year, the organisation has gone national and it currently has active operations across the Western Cape, as well as in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga.

Lien Visagie, chairperson of the board of partners of PALS, says that the model implemented by the organisation focuses specifically on BEE projects. Commercial farmers either give portions of their land to workers or buy land with assistance from commercial banks or the Land Bank. “In this way, farmworkers can become owners while also being able to make an income and contribute to the country’s economy. We also want them to be able to create jobs on their farms.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Food For Mzansi heard from Visagie on the organisation’s work, expansion and future.

PALS is now working across Mzansi, with the latest chapter in Mpumalanga. How was the journey so far?

The expansion of PALS to other provinces and regions is an exciting journey. Covid-related regulations regarding meetings and travelling resulted in certain challenges, for example the inclusive consultation process with communities and stakeholders (which is one of the PALS goals) was impacted by lockdown regulations. Delays in funding applications and other enablers were also experienced.

Both Maluti Farming PALS and Mpumalanga PALS were registered as non-profit companies with boards of directors.

They continue to list possible (new) PALS projects, and the implementation of the first number of PALS enterprises is in process.

Local knowledge and an understanding of local or regional conditions are important.  The implementation of PALS in other provinces and regions are therefore facilitated by black and white farmers from those regions, with the strategic and intellectual support of SA PALS.

How has your experience in the Western Cape shaped your expansion to the other provinces?

Practical experience with the implementation of PALS enterprises has assisted with the establishment of certain practices and guidelines.

[We learned that] it is very important to address the critical success factors for a sustainable agricultural business in the planning and implementation of PALS enterprises. These factors, namely access to land through title deed or long-term lease, access to capital for development and inputs, access to markets for inputs and produce, skills, a dispute resolution mechanism and the exit strategy, should be complied with.

Tell us about the months since your election as chair.

The last two years as chairperson were exciting, positive and rewarding. Some successes in the last year include the implementation of PALS projects like Ceres Tierberg Nursery in the Koue Bokkeveld and Rockbelt Ridge in Robertson, through transfer of land. Project Phakameza Farming in Piketberg was implemented through the start of farming activities.

What should agri partners have in order to form a partnership with PALS?

Commitment to build an inclusive agri sector and [commitment to] grow together with their elected partners. The vision to create a better future for themselves and their children. Also, a belief in the PALS vision, mission and values, which include the drive to initiate, facilitate, coordinate and promote reform of agri-land ownership, economic growth, job creation and social harmony.

ADVERTISEMENT

Will PALS eventually have a footprint in every province in the country?

The dream, and one of the 19 August 2014 goals, was to extend PALS to other areas and agri-related industries. We envisage that PALS centres, with an integrated development framework, will become the local solution for cooperation and service delivery by the private sector and communities in every region and province.

ALSO READ: Mpumalanga PALS ‘a major step for land reform in Mzansi’

Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people that feed Mzansi.

Tags: land reformLien VisagiePALSPartners in Agri Land Solutions (PALS)
Previous Post

Infrastructure spend: what farmers want most

Next Post

Recipe: Grilled chicken burger with a summer salad

Nicole Ludolph

Nicole Ludolph

Born and bred in Cape Town, Nicole Ludolph is always telling a story. After a few years doing this and that, she decided that she might as well get paid for her stories. Nicole began her journalism career writing science articles for learner magazine Science Stars and interning at Getaway Magazine.

Related Posts

The State Capture commission made a range of recommendations to prevent corrupt projects like the Estina Vrede Dairy Farm project in future. Image: Food For Mzansi

Vrede Dairy Farm: Heads must roll, say farmers

by Tiisetso Manoko
24th Jun 2022
0

It can't go on like this, with billions disappearing into corrupt and ineffective land reform projects. So say farmers and...

The Mamphodo Mushasha Begwa Community Property Association (CPA) located in Louis Trichadt and Elim in Limpopo has been crushed by alleged sabotage. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

‘Sabotage’ brings successful land reform farm to its knees

by Staff Reporter
18th May 2022
0

What seemed like textbook example of a successful land reform farm in Limpopo has been brought to its knees, allegedly...

Some of the agriculture events to look out for this week includes the second Kaallaagte cattle auction as well as training in worm farming. Photos: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

This week’s agriculture events: 9 May – 13 April

by Vateka Halile
9th May 2022
0

This week's agri calendar is jam-packed with exciting activities such as a livestock auction, webinar on the Agri food industry,...

Farmers and agri leaders reflect on what Freedom Day means, 28 years after Mzansi's first democratic elections. Photos: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Freedom Day: Black farmers still fighting for a dream

by Zolani Sinxo
27th Apr 2022
0

It's Freedom Day. As the country commemorates this important day in the history of South Africa, black farmers tell Food...

Next Post
Who doesn't love a juicy burger? Mpho Mapatsi, the co-founder of George-based food business Uzuri The Experience, shares her delicious recipe. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Recipe: Grilled chicken burger with a summer salad

Reggie Kambule from Villiers in the Free State runs a 185 hectare farm where he breeds livestock and cultivates maize. Photo:Supplied/Food For Mzansi
Farmers

Engineer-turned farmer takes pride in good results

by Tiisetso Manoko
28th Jun 2022
0

INSPIRATION: Former chemical engineer, Reggie Kambule, had big boots to fill when he took over from his father to co-run...

Read more
Malose Mokgotho, president of the South African Agricultural Graduates Organisation, unpacks why agricultural graduates are not finding jobs. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

SAAGA on a mission to speak for exploitable graduates

28th Jun 2022
Rural safety is in the spotlight at a summit currently underway in the Free State. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Rural Safety Summit ‘will fail without action plan’

28th Jun 2022
Reports of the Land Bank’s use of force to allegedly intimidate and liquidate farmers is another instance of the Bank’s lack of empathy, unwillingness and inability to assist commercial and emerging farmers believes South African politician Noko Masipa. Photo: Supplied/AdobeStock

Lack of legislative support threatens SA’s food security

27th Jun 2022
Agripreneur 101: Sweet success for jam producer

Agripreneur 101: Sweet success for jam producer

27th Jun 2022

Tiny nanotech will have a huge impact on agriculture

North West welcomes newly trained potato farmers

Vrede Dairy Farm: Heads must roll, say farmers

Manopole gives biggest budget slice to farmer support

Podcast: Here’s how to control and prevent rabies

Holy smokes! Cannabis in chicken feed?

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 11 global awards in the first three years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

Beef up your understanding of SA’s red meat industry

Tiny nanotech will have a huge impact on agriculture

Safety summit: Will it be a turning point?

Engineer-turned farmer takes pride in good results

SAAGA on a mission to speak for exploitable graduates

Rural Safety Summit ‘will fail without action plan’

  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
WhatsApp line: +27 81 889 9032
Marketing: +27 71 147 0388
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought

Copyright © 2021 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version