The Western Cape government has spent close to R500-million on land reform and empowerment projects since 2009, but research conducted by the Department of Agriculture has revealed that the province needs to spend a minimum of R2.16-billion a year over the next 15 years to achieve the National Development Plan’s (NDP’s) land transfer targets.

An independent assessment had found that, to date, over 60% of the land reform projects in the Western Cape had been successful.

This was according to Western Cape Economic Opportunities Minister Alan Winde, who said that over the next five years the province would work to ensure a 70% success rate of all land reform projects in the Western Cape.

Addressing the West Coast Agricultural Summit on Tuesday, he stressed that accelerating the pace of transformation in the agricultural sector was one of his foremost priorities.

“The Farmer Support and Development Programme will receive R256.9-million in this financial year to help new farmers build successful agribusinesses. This funding will be used to deliver a full suite of post-settlement support services to land reform beneficiaries, equipping them with the skills they need to run successful operations,” Winde outlined.
 
The Western Cape also sought to advise 4 600 farmers on how to take their enterprises to the next level.
 
“Government, in collaboration with the private sector, must ensure we give beneficiaries the best chance of success. Successful land reform can only happen through collaboration and meaningful partnerships will be critical in delivering the targets we have set,” Winde noted.
 
To this end, the Western Cape government was participating in all the National Department of Rural Development and Land Reform’s District Land Committees.
 
The NDP targeted the transfer of 20% of agricultural land to previously disadvantaged South Africans by 2030, with Winde stating that this was a goal the province was determined to contribute towards.
 
“We also know that government is facing increasing fiscal pressure and this is why we need innovative approaches to drive land reform projects.”
 
Therefore, the NDP’s targets would only be achieved through a collaborative approach, Winde emphasised, urging all the Western Cape government’s partners to work together to escalate the number of land reform projects in the province, as well as improve their rate of success.
 
“We are determined to see that young and black farmers receive the boost they need to be a part of the growth story of this sector.”