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Agriculture, agrarian reform and rural development Thoko Didiza.
- The Department of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Rural Development will release 700,000 hectares of underused or unoccupied state lands for agricultural purposes in the next two weeks.
- Beneficiaries will not be able to sublet or sublet part of the land after signing a lease with the government.
- After signing a lease, the beneficiaries will undergo a mandatory training program.
The government is expected to release 896 farms, comprising 700,000 hectares of underused or unoccupied state land, for agricultural purposes.
Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza made the announcement on Wednesday, outlining the process the public must follow when requesting available state farmland as part of the government’s contribution to the agrarian reform program.
In the next two weeks, the government will issue advertisements for the 896 farms.
Didiza said that all beneficiaries who have been assigned state land and who have signed leases will be subject to a mandatory training program.
“The training program will include entry-level training on the product of your choice, basic record keeping and basic financial management, as well as business development. The lease will not be transferable under any circumstances,” he said.
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Didiza also said that the beneficiaries would not be allowed to sublet or sublet part of the land or the entire farm after signing a lease with the state.
“The beneficiary has the obligation to maintain all the infrastructure and care for the land assigned to him. The beneficiary will have to manage, maintain and keep the record of the assets received from the state,” Didiza said.
She added:
“All investment made by the beneficiary must be registered, valued and reported to the state. The beneficiaries will pay a monthly or annual rental rate per hectare determined by the state, consistent with the value of the land according to the valuation of the area. A management credit A system will be put in place to manage debt recovery and management. Failure to comply with any of the contractual obligations listed above, the state will consider the option to terminate the lease. “
The government offers a 30-year lease, with an option to buy.
The 700,000 hectares of land will be distributed in:
- the Eastern Cape: 43,000ha;
- the Free State: 83 33ha;
- KwaZulu-Natal: 3 684 ha;
- Limpopo: 121 567ha;
- Mpumalanga: 40,206 ha;
- the North Cape: 12,224 ha; Y
- Northwest: 300,000ha.
Didiza said Gauteng and the Western Cape had no land to advertise.
The government, Didiza said, would be responsible for ensuring that the basic infrastructure is in good condition and registering the infrastructure and assets on the farm after entering into a lease with a beneficiary.
He added that quarterly inspection visits would be carried out to ensure state infrastructure and assets are maintained.
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Since President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement in his February state of the nation address, the department has given 135,117 hectares of land to 275 farmers in the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northwest.
Beneficiaries
Of the 275 beneficiaries, 160 are women, 114 are young and one person has a disability.
Didiza also said that a land investigation process is being carried out on state lands that are already occupied without the formal approval of the department.
“Such research will evaluate farms that have been acquired through the Proactive Land Acquisition Program (PLAS). The land research will investigate and determine how the people and communities currently occupying the land gained access to it. The research will also look at it. how the land is currently being used and whether such use is in accordance with agricultural practices in the area, “he said.
Didiza added that where lad has been used for settlement, an evaluation will be carried out “together with the departments of human settlements and water, environmental, forestry and fisheries affairs. Based on the result of the evaluation and recommendation, a decision will be made.” on the future of such occupations “.
Asked about corruption in the allocation process, Didiza said: “This is a cancer that we need to uproot in our society, not only in the state because we know that corrupt practices are found in the public and private sector and among citizens. been in your part is to deal with them. “
Applications will open on October 15.
