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Johannesburg - Wildlife ranching can help bring black farmers into the industry in line with land reform principles in the national development plan (NDP), Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti said on Thursday.
"The continued exclusion of black people from the productive sectors of the agricultural economy is unsustainable," Nkwinti said.
He said Wildlife Ranching SA's commitment to promote economic development and growth in line with the NDP was welcome.
"We welcome the call for rapid and proactive transformation by Wildlife Ranching South Africa and the industry's commitment to promoting economic development and growth," he told the SA Hartland land reform workshop in Klerksdorp, North West, according to a copy of his speech.
It was imperative to address historical land dispossession, he said.
"Ours is to mediate a 'just and equitable' redistribution of land across these two disparate and potentially conflictual systems and patterns of land ownership and control.
"Finding solutions for the meaningful participation of previously disadvantaged people and communities in the agricultural economy is imperative."
He said privately owned wildlife ranches had the potential to be lucrative income generators.
Statistics showed the hunting industry was worth R8bn per annum, while game trading amounted to more than R2.5bn. Annual sales at wildlife auctions had increased from R62m a decade ago to R1bn at present, he said.
There were concerns that game farms were "primarily a lifestyle endeavour to maintain some form of idealistic colonial existence".
They drove up the price of land and were often foreign-owned.
However, they could create jobs in supporting industries and services such as taxidermy, tourism, and arts and crafts.
Nkwinti said the start-up capital required to start such a venture excluded many from the market and growth came mainly from outside investors.
"We are particularly pleased with the call that wildlife farmers should identify partnership opportunities for aspiring black farmers under our restitution programme, and should assist in the initiation of black-owned wildlife enterprises, offer expert advice and work with local communities."
