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A new agency aimed at supporting the agricultural economy among emerging farmers was launched in Pretoria on Tuesday, in a government-backed private-sector initiative.
The Agriculture Development Agency (AGDA), which will be led by Bigen business unit manager Leona Archary, will focus on building partnerships with cooperatives, commercial farmers, the financial sector and agricultural businesses, with the goal of contributing to changing land ownership patterns in the country.
Government will not provide funding to the agency, but will offer guidance and support.
Launched at the Agri Tech Conference and Expo in Pretoria, the agency is supported by the In Transformation Initiative, which is led by businessman and former government minister Roelf Meyer.
"The specific aims of AGDA are intended to promote greater social justice by creating enablers that will help drive sustainable land reform programmes and contribute to changing land ownership patterns in our country," a statement said. In doing so, it will also ultimately promote food security, the statement added.
The agency comes at a time when the agricultural sector is confronted with land reform regulations, which has created tensions and uncertainty among farmers.
Meyer said the agency would offer training, as well as support, to emerging farmers to improve capacity and access to agricultural markets.
Agriculture is a key driver of the economy; however, access to capital and land and markets has often been cited as a barrier to entry. The concept of the agency was developed over the past two years with various stakeholders.
The agency is part of the Public Private Growth Initiative (PPGI), which was established in 2018 under the leadership of Johan van Zyl, chairperson of Toyota South Africa - who is said to have been inspired President Cyril Ramaphosa's famous "Thuma Mina" (send me) call when he became president.
Compiled by Sibongile Khumalo
