During his 2012/13 budget speech in Parliament min. Van Rensburg said the Western Cape is striving towards a 60% land reform success rate. This is against the backdrop of a national success rate of only 10%. In order to achieve this, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture developed a Commodity Approach towards empowerment projects.
He said two crucial aspects are needed in order to achieve success in agricultural transformation. These are partnerships with the various commodity groups, in order to access skills and knowledge; and a tool with which to measure progress.
The commodity approach is based on commodity committees, represented by industry experts as well as government. These committees evaluate, assist, and support the projects. In some cases the Department and a commodity organisation will share the financial cost of a project.
The Department will invest R86 million in empowerment projects with the different commodity groups this year.
Projects are measured for success against five key performance areas: Market access, financial management, reinvestment in business, SARS compliance, and labour law compliance. Van Rensburg said that measured against these criteria, the current 202 land reform projects in the Western Cape are performing as follows:
- 74% have access to markets.
- 78% have sound financial management and record keeping systems.
- 50% are reinvesting in their farming enterprises.
- 76% are implementing their business plans.
- 50% are SARS compliant.
- 38% are Labour law compliant.
Min Gerrit applauded Agri Dwala for being crowned as the Best Empowerment Initiative in South Africa in 2011. Jacky Goliath has been voted as the Best Female Commercial Farmer in South Africa.
