Limpopo farms not productive

JOHANNESBURG - Production at several commercial farms in Limpopo, which government bought for rural communities in 1994, has virtually come to a standstill.

In that year, 71 farm projects were initiated under the Settlement and Land Acquisition Grant (Slag) programme, through which 6 655 households benefited from a grant of about R110 million.

Segoati Mahlangu, senior manager for communication and liaison at the provincial department of agriculture, confirmed that some commercial farms in Limpopo were not productive.

He said the main reason was that people were not participating in the projects and had no interest in farming.

“A lack of cohesion within groups made beneficiaries too susceptive to conflict, and some beneficiaries had little or no interest in farming and became inactive in the projects.”

In addition, the department has introduced the Slag de-registration campaign geared to depopulate the projects so that they can be productive and sustainable again.

One such de-registration campaign was launched in March 2006 in the Mopani district.

Mahlangu said since the launch, the department had managed to register at least 460 households.

“This exercise will also free those who de-register to access other government grants, should they wish.

“Currently, these people are disadvantaged because they do not benefit from the farms acquired since they are inactive, yet they cannot access other grants to meet their crucial needs.

“They will also be freed from debts accrued by legal entities,” said Mahlangu.

The department is due to visit projects in the province soon. – CNS.