TLU SA is nie oortuig dat die regering die verskil tussen landbou en sosio-maatskaplike hulp besef nie.
Die minister van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling, Thoko Didiza, het vanoggend aangekondig dat 135 117 hektaar staatsgrond vanjaar aan 275 boere – onder wie jongmense, vroue en mense met gestremdhede – oorgedra is. Sy het verder aangekondig dat nog ongeveer 260 000 hektaar staatsgrond binne die volgende twee weke geadverteer sal word. Vroue, jeugdiges en gestremdes sal voorkeur ontvang.
“Die minister maak ‘n punt daarvan om boere te bedank dat hulle tydens die inperking voortgegaan het om kos aan die land te voorsien,” sê mnr. Henry Geldenhuys, die president van TLU SA. “Maar tog kom dit voor asof alles moontlik gedoen word om landbou – en veral kommersiële boere – te benadeel.
“Die opheffing van mense kan slegs gebeur as hulle self verantwoordelikheid neem. Wanneer dit in die landboubedryf gebeur, moet die nuwe landbouers die plase volhoubaar winsgewend bedryf om ‘n bydrae tot landbou, en die ekonomie, te maak. Gebeur dit nie, is dit bloot ‘n politieke spel om mag te wen.”
TLU SA verwelkom graag nuwe toetreders tot die landboubedryf. Dié landbouers moet egter ‘n billike geleentheid hê om ‘n sukses van hulle boerderye te maak. ‘n Verantwoordelike regering sou bestaande landbou-organisasies betrek by die evaluering, toekenning en daarstel van die kriteria waaraan nuwe toetreders moet voldoen.
“Suid-Afrika se landbougrond word as marginaal beskou vergeleke met ander produserende lande,” sê mnr. Geldenhuys. “Dit is daarom belangrik dat die beskikbare landbougrond met groot oorsig benut word. Dit is noodsaaklik dat die beginsel van ekonomie van skaal hier toegepas moet word.
“Ons het vir die toekoms kundige boere nodig wat hulle plase winsgewend in produksie moet kan hou. Die ANC se rekord van grondoordrag het in hul eie erkenning die skaars landbougrond op groot skaal uit produksie gehaal. Dit plaas voedselsekerheid in die weegskaal.”
As die regte ekonomies-gedrewe benadering nie die kern van grondbenutting is nie, is dit bloot ‘n politieke punte-insameling in plaas van ‘n volhoubare oplossing vir die welstand en vooruitgang van die land.
TLU SA is not convinced that the government knows the difference between agriculture and social welfare.
The minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, today announced that they released 135 117 hectares of state land to 275 farmers – youth, women and people with disabilities – this year. She further said that they would advertise around 260 000 hectares state land during the next two weeks. Women, the youth and people with disabilities will be prioritised.
“The minister makes a point of thanking farmers for working tirelessly during the lockdown to ensure the country of food,” says Mr Henry Geldenhuys, the president of TLU SA. “But it does seem like the government is doing everything in its power to damage agriculture – mostly commercial farmers.
“The upliftment of people is only possible when they take responsibility themselves. When it happens in the agricultural sector, new farmers must sustainably and profitably manage their farms to contribute to agriculture and the economy. If that does not happen, it is simply a political game to win power.”
TLU SA welcomes new farmers to the agricultural sector. These farmers must, however, have a fair opportunity to make a success of their farm. A responsible government would have involved existing agricultural organisations in the evaluation, allocation and setting of criteria for new farmers.
“South Africa is a marginal farming country in comparison to other producing countries,” says Mr Geldenhuys. “We must utilise the available farming land with great insight. It is essential to apply the principle of the economy of scale in this case.
“In the future, we need good farmers who must be able to keep their farms not only in production but also profitable. The ANC’s record of land transfers – by their admission – took valuable agricultural land out of production on a large scale. Food security is in jeopardy.”
If the correct economically driven approach is not the core of land use, it is just a political ploy to win favour instead of a sustainable solution for the prosperity of the country.
