Rural Development and Land Reform approves land for farm workers, agriculture graduates, youth, and women

Farm workers in Bathurst and Oudtshoorn were among beneficiaries' allocated farms this week under Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) programme. A total of R215 million was approved under the department's Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) this week.

6 Nov 2015

Kate Holt/AusAID via Wikimedia Commons

"One of the farms we have identified in the Eastern Cape, Bathurst, is going to be used as a pilot project for the policy on Strengthening the Relative Rights of People Working the Land Policy (50/50 Policy)," said Mdu Shabane, the Director-General for DRDLR.

The farm workers will partner with the existing owner and another co-op with extensive experience in the agricultural sector, said Shabane. The farm produces pineapples on 137, 8000 ha.

Meanwhile, farm workers in Oudtshoorn were leased a farm that produces tobacco, lucerne, and breed ostriches.

The land allocation was also given to woman, youth, and military veterans, agricultural graduates who farm with livestock, crops, deciduous fruit, and dairy. The department's National Land Allocation and Recapitalisation Control Committee (NLARCC), which is chaired by Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha processes the applications before they are brought to the Minister Gugile Nkwinti for concurrence.

Source: allAfrica

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