STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS 2004
More support for small farmers
Candace Freeman
21 May 2004
The Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs will intensify its support for agricultural activities in communal land areas, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday.
Speaking during the opening of Parliament in Cape Town, Mbeki highlighted the need for an increased focus on communal land areas in the country.
"Once approved, the Communal Land Rights Bill will improve the possibilities for better economic utilisation of communal land", he said.
The Bill aims to provide people living on communal land with greater security of tenure and access to democratic administrative structures. It will also provide protection against arbitrary deprivation of land tenure rights.
"The department will also focus on small-scale agriculture, drawing on resources within the Agriculture Credit Scheme, ensuring the implementation of the Land Reform for Agricultural Development process and the Comprehensive Agricultural Support programme," Mbeki
said.
He said the department would publish its AgriBEE framework document for public comment in July. AgriBEE aims to uplift emerging black farmers in the commercial farming sector.
Source: BuaNews
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