The FF Plus welcomes the attempts of Mr. Nkwinti, Minister of Rural Development and Land Affairs, to clear the uncertainty surrounding land by recognizing private land ownership as one of the three categories. The Minister's idea to for example restrict the size of land which may be owned and his propaganda arguments with regards to land do however not help to bring certainty for rural communities.

South Africa 's economic success in Africa can largely be attributed to the First World section of our economy. Ill-considered land reformed in South Africa will destroy our First World agricultural economy.

First World agricultural economies require an economy of steel where fewer farmers farm on larger tracts of land in order to still profitably provide food to urban dwellers of a country. The Minister's proposals will destroy it.

In South Africa we have to find a balance between subsistence farmers, who want land to provide in their own needs and commercial farmers who have to produce food for 70% of urban dwellers. We need subsistence farmers for political stability and commercial farmers for food security.

Statement issued by Dr. Pieter Mulder, FF Plus Leader and Deputy Minister: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, February 18 2010

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