Land should be given to capable farmers, says govt

Johannesburg – A benchmark is needed to select capable farmers who can take over redistributed land, according to Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries director general Mike Mlengana.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Nation in Conversation at Nampo Harvest Day in Klerksdorp, on Tuesday.

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Within the criteria, the candidate’s experience of farming and financial viability, among other things, will be assessed, explained Mlengana.

He said it is important to assess the capability of a farmer to start his or her own initiatives and to buy their own inputs. “Then government can come and complement that.”

He pointed out that government should maintain a relationship with farmers after giving them funding. “We can’t just give money and then run away.”

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