Parliament has finalised its countrywide hearings’ programme on the land expropriation without compensation, but many are still asking how this will work.
The committee dealing with this issue has already received more than 140 000 submissions.
In Alexandria, Eastern Cape, a commercial farmer that has partnered with emerging farmers, has a success story to tell.
The Longvale Co-operative was formed in 1998, and consisted one of 18 members that bought the dilapidated little Barnet Dairy farm.
However, the trust failed to develop this farm.
In 2007, Walter Biggs, a commercial dairy farmer in the area, offered to mentor the trustees of the farm and help develop it.
He then became a share milker and the dairy farm started with just 49 cows, and the idea was to sell the milk to nearby Nonkqubela Township.
The farm however has been met with financial challenges, which led to loans being made at the Land Bank, and Walter having to invest millions in the farm as well.
Farm manager and shareholder, Tshilidze Matshidzula says they were met with many challenges and decided to sell some shares to Walter.
“We got to a point where we sat down and said listen, we don’t have to go about owning 100% of the business, and that’s when we pulled in Walter Biggs who invested heavily and continued to monitor us,” adds Matshidzula.
Walter now owns 50% of the farm.
However, he set up a contract that allows the other share-holders to buy him out, should they feel that they can manage the farm on their own.
He believes for emerging farmers to grow, the commercial farmers need to mentor them and invest in the land.
“It’s important that people have title of the ground they own. I know in a co-op [co-operation] system you obviously have a whole lot of people, but the thing is where is the accountability in a co-op, who is really taking responsibility and that where co-ops fail, and for these to succeed I think – get a commercial partner who risks in the co-op with them and share the profits.”
The dairy now has 600 cows and produces 10 000 litres of milk a day, and about 14 000 litres during the peak season.
It supplies the Coega Dairy near Port Elizabeth.
The farm currently employs 14 permanent staff members and has two interns.
Those who work on the farm are encouraging more young people to consider agriculture or farming as a profession.
Wezile Dyantyi is the farm assistant manager.
“The main advice I can give is that emerging farmers must go to school, do farming studies, then from there meet with people in commercial farming and work with them,” adds Dyantyi.
The trust also has community development programs and scholarships for deserving learners in the area.
They also use about 60 hectares of the farm for irrigation, and the aim is to add another 50 hectares.
