The Free State places great emphasis on the importance of agriculture to its economy. According to Oupa Khoabane, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, by 2030 agriculture will create close to one million new jobs, contributing significantly to reducing overall unemployment.
“The NDP Vision 2030 envisages rural areas which are spatially, socially and economically well-integrated across municipal, district, provincial and regional boundaries — where residents have economic growth, food security and jobs as a result of agrarian transformation and infrastructure development programmes, and improved access to basic services, health care and quality education,” said Khoabane.
“Achieving this vision will require leadership on land reform, communal tenure security, financial and technical support to farmers, and the provision of social and physical infrastructure for successful implementation. It will require capacity building to enable state institutions and private industries to implement these interventions, as well as improved co-ordination and integration in the planning and implementation of area-based and differentiated rural development plans.”
The NDP identifies six policy imperatives: improved land administration and spatial planning, sustainable land reform, improved food security, smallholder farmer development and support, increased access to quality basic infrastructure and services — particularly in education, healthcare and public transport in rural areas. There must also be growth of sustainable rural enterprises and industries characterised by strong rural-urban linkages, increased investment in agro-processing, trade development and access to markets and financial services.
There have already been some significant achievements by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, including the process of establishing Mega Agri-Parks in each of the 27 poorest district municipalities across South Africa as part of transforming rural economies.
“There are multiple objectives behind the establishment of Agri-Parks. These include kick-starting rural economic transformation, growing the smallholder sector by contributing to the establishment of 300 000 new small-scale producers, skills development and support to smallholder farmers through providing capacity building, mentorship, farm infrastructure, extension services, production and mechanisation inputs, increasing employment and strengthening the partnerships between government and the private sector,” said Khoabane.
Tenure security
“In the Free State, Mega-Agri Parks are to be established in Springfontein in the Xhariep District, Harrismith in Thabo Mofutsanyana, Thaba Nchu in Mangaung Metro, Wesselsbron in Lejweleputswa and Parys in Fezile Dabi.
“We have also cultivated five hectares of underutilised land in Welheminah Agri-Village for production of apples and cherries, planted maize and dry beans on 753 hectares in Diyatalawa Agri-Village and a further 19 438 hectares have been ploughed and planted through the mechanisation programme in various districts.
“More than 16 projects have been supported with irrigation systems during the past five years and it remains our commitment to expand irrigated agricultural land.”
Since 2009, this department has helped farmers in multiple ways, from supplying livestock to acquiring and allocating strategically located land. It remains intent on creating tenure security and its support includes assisting with housing, solar power and agricultural It is also working on improving food security.
Khoabane said its food security programme Rekgaba Ka Diratswana (Pride in the Garden) has since its inception in 2013 established more than 19 505 vegetable gardens, benefiting more than 24 509 households and 60 396 people.
Food gardens have also been established in 94 clinics across the province.
Other successfully completed projects include the first phase of the Vrede Dairy with a 70-point rotary parlour, with phase two — the processing plant — 99% complete. In partnership with China, the Xhariep Fish Hatchery has become a reality, as has the construction of the Agricultural Training Demonstration Centre. There are now 30 officials and 135 farmers involved in fish production.
A further six fish projects with 78 fish tanks for the production of fingerlings in Springfontein, Koffiefontein, Bethulie, Petrusburg, Zastron and Fauresmith will ensure that the Xhariep Fish Hatchery fulfils its mandate effectively.
Two poultry hubs in Virginia and Brandfort have been established and two layer houses are complete, with the construction of six broiler houses in Virginia in progress. A further three chicken hubs in Parys, Deneyville and Frankfort are being built.
In Magaung 12 beef value chains have been established and procurement of livestock and production inputs has started. The department also purchased a 20% equity share for the eight workers at Vergezoght Sunflower Processing Plant; the enterprise’s products are sold at Woolworths, Checkers and various health shops.
“This trade conference has highlighted that our farmers and business people have not been networking and this forum has really assisted them to expand their horizons,” concluded Khoabane.