W Cape's R70m for land reform
Candace Freeman
18 June 2004
The Western Cape government on Thursday announced that it has allocated R70-million towards a land reform programme in the province for the 2004-2005 financial year.
Agriculture MEC Cobus Dowry said the allocation was in addition to the 38 000 hectares of land that have already been transferred in the province in the past two years.
"Ownership of land and the ability to farm it gives a sense of dignity and a key to future prosperity to the many beneficiaries of land reform," Dowry told the legislature on Thursday.
Dowry said while land reform programmes had achieved success in the past years, the next 100 days would see exciting changes, including the launch of the new farmer support and development programme in all the province's districts.
"An additional 70 staff members will be appointed this year to deliver on the promises of extension, support and facilitation of training to farmers," he said.
Dowry also said the
department will invest R71 000 to deliver and manage a comprehensive agricultural database on various land reform and redistribution projects.
"Details on physical infrastructure, and production and social systems will be incorporated and kept up to date through liaison with community workers and other government departments.
"This will enable us to keep track of developments and performances at grassroots levels," he said.
Source: BuaNews
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