The Western Cape provincial minister of agriculture recently visited two farms that form part of a local land reform project in order to see the impact of the farms on surrounding communities.
This was according to Stuart Grobbelaar, spokesperson for Stellenbosch Municipality. Dr Ivan Meyer, the minister of agriculture for the Western Cape, accompanied Gesie van Deventer, executive mayor of Stellenbosch Municipality, in visiting the successful farmers on 3 May, according to Grobbelaar. These farmers, along with three others, were provided with long-term leases for previously underutilised areas of municipal land in 2019, as part of a Stellenbosch Municipality land reform project, he said.
Stellenbosch Municipality is in the process of making more land available to farmers, due to the success of the land reform project that provided five farmers with long-term leases for underutilised areas of municipal land in 2019. PHOTO: Erin Walls
“The mayor and minister wanted to see first-hand how the farmers are doing and how their businesses have positively impacted on the surrounding community,” said Grobbelaar in email correspondence with MatieMedia.
In 2019, the municipality invited individuals with farming experience to apply for leases for municipal land, explained Grobbelaar.
“Successful applicants were selected following a detailed evaluation process, during which experience in farming and agriculture, a business plan and the financial readiness of all applicants were evaluated,” said Grobbelaar.
Christine Jeptha, one of the five beneficiaries of the project, supplies kale and spinach to local businesses such as Rooted. PHOTO: Erin Walls
The land reform project aims to “ensure the best use of municipal agricultural land that wasn’t necessarily being optimally used before”, in a way that empowers small-scale local farmers, creates jobs for residents, boosts the agricultural economy and improves food security, said Grobbelaar.
“[The project] sets an example of how local municipalities can deal with the issue of municipal agricultural land in a way that promotes successful land reform and local economic development,” said Daniel Johnson, spokesperson for the Western Cape minister of agriculture. Each of the pieces of land being leased to the farmers is about five to ten hectares in size, according to Johnson.
The long-term lease contracts range from nine to eleven years, with farmers having the option to renew them, said Van Deventer. The municipality also provides the farmers with necessities, such as water and electricity, according to Grobbelaar.
“The ultimate goal is to empower and support small-scale farmers from our municipal area, and to ensure that every patch of available municipal land is optimally used,” said Grobbelaar.
The farmers plant “mainly vegetables and herbs”, said Johnson. Through the project, the farmers have established markets that they supply with produce. They are also employing 18 people full time, he added.
Christine Jeptha, one of the five beneficiaries of the project, told MatieMedia that she supplies products such as kale, spring onions and lettuce to local businesses in Stellenbosch. She also sells fresh produce every Saturday at the farm gate on Annandale Road.
“For the whole year now, people diligently rock up for fresh produce every Saturday – come rain or shine,” said Jeptha.
Due to the success of the project, the municipality has started the process of making more agricultural land available for similar initiatives, said Grobbelaar.
Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape minister of agriculture, and Gesie van Deventer, Stellenbosch mayor, visited two farms that form part of a successful land reform project on 3 May. PHOTO: Supplied/Stellenbosch Municipality