Hanoi:President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the release of approximately 2.5 million hectares of state-owned land to black farmers as part of a strategy to transform South Africa's agricultural sector and expand commercial farming.
According to South African Government News Agency, this initiative under the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy aims to provide black farmers with title deeds, fostering a new generation of commercial farmers and expanding the country's agricultural productivity. President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of land access combined with financing, skills development, mentorship, and training to enable aspiring farmers to operate successfully on a commercial scale.
Highlighting the success of Redlands Farm, a commercial dairy farm in the Eastern Cape run by young black farmers, the President noted how support from the Land Bank has helped the farm expand its operations. This demonstrates the potential of partnerships and access to finance in helping emerging farmers grow their businesses. Redlands Farm is part of the Land Bank's Blended Finance Scheme, which combines government grants with loan finance to support farmers.
President Ramaphosa pointed out that while the agricultural sector has more than doubled since 1994 and reached record exports, it remains characterized by unequal participation. Predominantly white-owned commercial farms produce most of the output, with black farmers contributing around 10%. He stressed the need to transform agriculture to address historical inequalities, strengthen food security, and meet the country's growing food demands.
To aid emerging commercial farmers, access to affordable capital is crucial. The Land Bank and the Department of Agriculture have introduced a blended finance instrument to address funding challenges. The President also highlighted the importance of equipping aspiring farmers with skills, mentorship, and resources necessary for successful commercial farming.
He welcomed initiatives by agricultural commodity associations that support emerging farmers and emphasized the need for stronger partnerships among government, farmers, businesses, and communities to further develop the sector. The government is also working to diversify export markets and engage with farmers on new agricultural technologies.