Agriculture
Question by:
Hon Andricus van der Westhuizen
Answered by:
Hon Ivan Meyer
Question Number:
5
Question Body:
- Whether his Department is responsible for the support of farmers on state-owned farms with advice and/or training; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether his Department is consulted regarding the suitability and/or training needs of prospective farmers who have applied for the opportunities offered on state farms or on public land; if so, what are the relevant details;
- (a) how regularly is his Department informed of the allocation of farms and public land to new farmers who may be in need of his Department’s support and (b) how many names have been forwarded in (i) 2018/19, (ii) 2019/20 and (iii) 2020/21 to date?
Answer Body:
- The Western Cape Department of Agriculture offer Extension and Advisory Services to all farmers in the Province, inclusive of those on private farms, Land reform farms and Pro- Active Land Acquisition Strategy PLAS Farms. Furthermore, the Department conducts skills audits to farms to determine the needs and training is provided to address gaps identified. Training ranges from accredited to non-accredited training, farmer days and demonstration days.
- Minister Thoko Didiza released Government land last year to settle farmers but the Western Cape and Gauteng was excluded from this process. The reason was that there was no state land available to be released for purposes of Land reform to these Provinces.
- (a) The Department of Agriculture is a standing member on all District Beneficiary Selection Committees (DBSC) and is invited by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) when such a meeting occurs.
- See table below:
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3 farms | 2 farms | 4 farms |
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Date:
Friday, February 26, 2021