NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 119

DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 19 MARCH 2010 [IQP No 6- 2010] SECOND SESSION, FOURTH PARLIAMENT

Question 119 for Written Reply, National Council of Provinces: Mr D A Worth (DA-FS) to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

1. Whether any production farms purchased by the Government in the Free State since 1994 under the Land Requisition Programme are: a.) Abandoned; b.) Unproductive; (i) How many in each case; (ii) Where are they situated in the province and, (iii) What will be done to resuscitate these farms into economic sustainable units

2. (a.) Who will supply the expertise and support to the emerging farmers; (b) At what costs; (c) What are the relevant budget allocations in each regard?

REPLY

1 a.) There are no abandoned farms in the province

b.) There are 98 farms which are not productive

i.) The total number of farms purchased by the Government through Land Bank since 1994 which are not productive is 98.

ii.) Of the total number of farms which are not productive, 61 farms are registered in the Land Bank office of Bethlehem, 25 in Bloemfontein and 12 in Kroonstad.

iii.) The Value Chain Financing Model (VCFM) will be utilized for the financing of both small holder farmers in the curatorship model and new small holders' farmers requiring funding from the Land Bank. This is a matter under discussion between the Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform.

2 a.) The expertise and support to emerging farmers will involve the participation of input suppliers, commodity groups, scientists (e.g. agronomists), crop insurers, markets and DAFF. The Land Bank will play a pivotal role in facilitating linkages between different groups. This will help farmers get access to technical support, training and mentorship, and technology transfer services. DAFF in partnership with these identified partners will package different schemes (livestock, crop, forestry, aquaculture etc) for easy access.

b.) By end of quarter 1 (April 2010 - June 2010), Land Bank will present to the three ministers (DAFF, DRDLR and Finance) a business plan for the resuscitation of farms in distress.

c.) The business plan to be presented by Land Bank will highlight relevant budget allocation for each form of enterprise.

Issued by Parliament, May 12 2010

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