The 2019–2023 Land Reform Evaluation Report by Phuhlisani Solutions reveals a high success rate among land reform farmers in the Western Cape, presenting a contrast to national trends.
According to the Western Cape provincial minister of agriculture, Ivan Meyer, 83% of farmers who receive post-settlement support (PSS) from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) view themselves as successful agri-businesses.
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This figure sharply contrasts with the national government’s reported 90% failure rate in similar programmes.
Minister Meyer expressed his pride in the successful outcomes and credited the WCDoA and its business partners for their comprehensive support.
Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, the head of agriculture in the Western Cape, stressed the role of the ‘commodity approach’ in these achievements.
This approach fosters an ecosystem of support, enhancing land reform success through partnerships and collaboration with industry players.
Pieter Mentoor, a beneficiary of the programme, shared his personal growth story, noting the department’s role in his business’s expansion and success.
Mentoor said, ‘The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has been supporting me on my journey to grow my business. This year I will be harvesting one hectare of produce for the first time, and I have already planted another hectare. My business is growing, and I consider myself blessed.’
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The report also summarises several recommendations for the WCDoA, urging it to play a more central role in both pre- and post-settlement planning and coordination.
It calls for greater involvement in market access, a review of the PSS programme and stronger collaboration with industry bodies like AgriWC.
Mariette Kotze, the group operations manager at Hortgro, lauded the progress in transforming smallholder farmers into commercial entities. She noted the department’s effectiveness in areas like production, market access and job creation.
Minister Meyer reiterated the significance of land reform in the Western Cape’s Growth for Jobs Strategy.
‘Land reform is one of the building blocks of our Growth for Jobs strategy. We will now develop a management implementation plan to ensure that the recommendations in the report are implemented,’ concluded the minister.
The full report is available here.
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