28 Feb 2012The agricultural sector in South Africa is in for an interesting shake-up this year. The government has set aside R4 billion to help develop smallholder farmers as it seeks to create more jobs in the sector, according to Langa Zita, the director-general of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The department was rolling out a plan called Zero Hunger, which would play a central role in developing agriculture on smallholdings, he said. The programme is being run in partnership with the departments of Health, Education and Social Development. It aims to give preferential procurement status to smallholder farmers who are able to supply goods efficiently and sustainably.
“We are embarking on a comprehensive overhaul of the architecture of food production in the country,” Zita said.
http://www.iol.co.za/business/business-news/shake-up-starts-with-r4bn-for-small-farms-1.1243964
