Agri Limpopo stands in solidarity with the Farming Community and the position adopted by AGRI SA in response to the release of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture’s report.

Agri Limpopo stands in solidarity with the Farming Community and the position adopted by AGRI SA in response to the release of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture’s report.

The report, as it stands, is not good news for commercial agriculture or for the future of the country’s agricultural sector as a whole.

We are particularly concerned at its recommendations supporting the amendment of the Constitution (our Bill of Rights, in fact!) so as to facilitate ‘expropriation of land without compensation’ and those relating to ‘land ceilings’ and a ‘new land tax’.

The report, and these three matters in particular, will affect investor and business confidence (which is already at an all-time low) and has the potential to affect food security, if not suitably unresolved.
We remain committed, with AGRI SA, to actively defend the rights and interests of our Members and the agricultural sector as a whole.

We believe in a more pragmatic and responsible approach to the challenges we face as a nation (particularly as far as land reform and agriculture is concerned), one in which established commercial farming is empowered to assist in driving ‘inclusive agricultural development’ – and remain committed to participating in such initiatives.

The processes to amend the Constitution, adopt the new Expropriation Act, and levy the proposed new punitive land tax must still unfold. As AGRI Limpopo we will, with AGRI SA, continue to advance and protect the interests of our members and agriculture as a whole.

Issued by Deidre Carter

Cell 082 831 9168