Reform will 'stabilise' farms

2003-10-01 22:30

Marietie Louw

Johannesburg - White farmers will be less "vulnerable" if land reform in the country is successful.

This is what Prof Lawrence Schlemmer of Markdata told an agriculture forecast conference at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria on Wednesday.

He said the successful settlement of black small farmers would contribute to stability in the agricultural sector.

"The biggest challenge of land reform is to establish small farmers successfully with sufficient support structures," Schlemmer said.

He said the relocation of small farmers would "have to improve significantly". If this does not happen, people will "start farming with squatters".

Carmen van der Merwe of the department of land affairs said the department was aware of problems with support structures where land had been redistributed.

She said land reform and settlement of small farmers would have to speed up rapidly.

By 2005, 30% of all agricultural land - 24 million hectares - should be in the hands of previously disadvantaged groups.

"Support is a critical factor that is missing in some land reform structures."

Van der Merwe said partnerships with the private sector should be established to ensure that support is successful and sustainable.

"Private and agricultural organisations have the experience and capacity to assist in this process," she said.

Farmers were called on to help the department with sustainable land reform.

Schlemmer said land reform was a way to combat unemployment.

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- Beeld