Ceres growers embrace land reform, implements bottom-up approach

“In August 2014 a meeting was called by local Ceres attorney Gerrit van Vuuren after he’d spoken to a few growers socially. The goal was to become part of the solution rather than the problem and a group of us formed Witzenberg PALS with the invaluable support of Lennox Plaatjies who was appointed COO,” Wolfaardt says.

A proactive, bottom-up approach to land reform

“PALS members voluntarily commit to supporting black farmers and empower the agri-workers on their own land, because they believe it is the right thing to do to ensure a sustainable future in agriculture”, says Plaatjies, adding that land reform was always a government-driven initiative that was driven in a top-down manner. “The commercial farmers of the Witzenberg area decided to act proactively and to play their part in land reform in South Africa.”

Wolfaardt explains that Witzenberg PALS, of which is he one of the directors, along with key Ceres Fruit Growers’ management, is based on viable commercial principles with a bottom-up approach which follows a framework that makes business sense and allows space for constant inputs from other role players in the Agricultural industry, adjusting the framework for each individual business/project.

“Commercial farming colleagues are also investing in this initiative because we all believe this can be a radical game changer for land reform in South Africa. We’re involved because we can foresee the positive impact this initiative can have on the socio-economic development of previously disadvantaged people and, by achieving real upliftment through ownership in new businesses and profit share, we will also ensure our own sustainability in the agricultural sector.”

Different forms of empowerment projects

Plaatjies explains that the land projects include different forms of empowerment projects: Green Fields projects refer to a project that entails a new piece of land that will be cultivated and planted with new orchards and vegetables while there are also projects that include an existing farm with established orchards and vegetables. In this case, the land will be subdivided or transferred to a new PALS company.

Plaatjies says that PALS is working to expedite the water license applications process which is currently very slow but the very good news is that First National Bank and Land Bank have already committed to PALS and are actively investigating financing models, one of the biggest hurdles in the land-reform process.

Creating a class of commercial black farmers

Wolfaardt says that the idea behind PALS was to start a one-stop shop for the Witzenberg Valley to help grow successful back farms in their area. “We need this - it isn’t just about land reform. I’m very pro-land reform. I think for people our age, in our late thirties, we tend to think less emotionally than older commercial farmers who are still emotional about land. We want to be part of the solution which is, in my opinion, the only way we can successfully guarantee our family’s future and food security in South Africa.”

According to Plaatjies, every day that the PALS initiative is implemented in more facets and projects, is a huge step towards a better future for the area and its people. “PALS aims to create a class of commercial black farmers. These black farmers will be individuals who have the competencies to farm commercially.

The Personnel Trust will be for the agri-workers, those who work the land. The individual black commercial farmers will be from the area and can be selected through objective criteria. We are in a debate with government and other role players on this matter. La Vouere comprising 114 hectares, Ceres is one such project that Peter Wolfaardt, Verdun Estates is in partnership with Raymond Koopstad of which we expect great things,” Plaatjies ends.

Tru-Cape’s managing director Roelf Pienaar says that as South Africa’s largest apple and pear marketer they take their responsibility for the livelihoods of 15,200 people very seriously. “Every piece of South African fruit we sell in South Africa and in over 103 countries around the world brings us closer to a thriving agricultural sector that is not divided along racial lines."