NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 119
DATE OF PUBLICATION: FRIDAY 19 MARCH 2010 [IQP No 6- 2010] SECOND SESSION,
FOURTH PARLIAMENT
Question 119 for Written Reply, National Council of Provinces: Mr D A Worth
(DA-FS)Â to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
1. Whether any production farms purchased by the Government in the Free
State since 1994 under the Land Requisition Programme are:
a. Abandoned
b. Unproductive
I. How many in each case
II. Where are they situated in the province and
III. What will be done to resuscitate these farms into economic
sustainable units
2.
a. Who will supply the expertise and support to the emerging farmers
b. At what costs
c. What are the relevant budget allocations in each regard?
REPLY
1.
a. There are no abandoned farms in the province
b. There are 98 farms which are not productive
I. The total number of farms purchased by the Government through Land
Bank since 1994 which are not productive is 98.
II. Of the total number of farms which are not productive, 61 farms are
registered in the Land Bank office of Bethlehem, 25 in Bloemfontein
and 12 in Kroonstad.
III. The Value Chain Financing Model (VCFM) will be utilized for the
financing of both small holder farmers in the curatorship model and
new small holdersâ farmers requiring funding from the Land Bank.
This is a matter under discussion between the Minister of Finance,
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Minister of
Rural Development and Land Reform.
2.
a. The expertise and support to emerging farmers will involve the
participation of input suppliers, commodity groups, scientists
(e.g. agronomists), crop insurers, markets and DAFF. The Land Bank
will play a pivotal role in facilitating linkages between different
groups. This will help farmers get access to technical support,
training and mentorship, and technology transfer services. DAFF in
partnership with these identified partners will package different
schemes (livestock, crop, forestry, aquaculture etc) for easy
access.
b. By end of quarter 1 (April 2010 â June 2010), Land Bank will
present to the three ministers (DAFF, DRDLR and Finance) a business
plan for the resuscitation of farms in distress.
c. The business plan to be presented by Land Bank will highlight
relevant budget allocation for each form of enterprise.