For more than 10 years, I have worked in many parts of the Transkei (still a homeland) to try and promote regenerative agriculture. I often hear that local farmers are subsistence farmers because they lack property rights. But that’s not the complete story.
There are many families (including those from which I lease land in the Cacadu region) who own deeded land in the so called communal areas. They struggle to farm the land because it’s small (2 to 5 ha) which is consolidated with hundreds of other family plots of the same size which can only be farmed as one unit.
It’s impossible to farm a 2 ha plot without fencing, right size infrastructure, water and access to market (unless I grow soya beans and yellow maize). If farming 2 ha was possible and profitable, the land dispossession that resulted in black farmers being confined into the homelands would have never happened.
I also think it’s a myth that small scale farmers anywhere will ever be in a position to compete in commodity markets, farming small patches of land, with borrowed money, proprietary seed, big expensive shiny toys.
“Large leaps in technology and infrastructure are the most likely catalysts for creating demand for new property rights.” I agree wholeheartedly. But not just property rights, but also to encourage innovative alternatives to commodity agriculture.
I think it definitely matters how capital assesses risk in villages that operate on trust and openness within the community. Secondly heirloom seeds are vital as these reduce the capital outlay for farming; organic fertilisers must be encouraged to be produced at all villages….further reducing farming costs. Thirdly, the use of gmo seeds (foods) has a direct link to carcinogens.
Wonder al baie lank wat die impak sal wees op die ekonomie as 1) daai bestaansboere en 2) ontvangers van HOP-huise bloot aktes ontvang, en hulle toelaat om daarmee handel te dryf. Nes hulle wil. Voeg sommer boere en gemeenskappe wat gebaat het by onteiening.
For more than 10 years, I have worked in many parts of the Transkei (still a homeland) to try and promote regenerative agriculture. I often hear that local farmers are subsistence farmers because they lack property rights. But that’s not the complete story.
There are many families (including those from which I lease land in the Cacadu region) who own deeded land in the so called communal areas. They struggle to farm the land because it’s small (2 to 5 ha) which is consolidated with hundreds of other family plots of the same size which can only be farmed as one unit.
It’s impossible to farm a 2 ha plot without fencing, right size infrastructure, water and access to market (unless I grow soya beans and yellow maize). If farming 2 ha was possible and profitable, the land dispossession that resulted in black farmers being confined into the homelands would have never happened.
I also think it’s a myth that small scale farmers anywhere will ever be in a position to compete in commodity markets, farming small patches of land, with borrowed money, proprietary seed, big expensive shiny toys.
“Large leaps in technology and infrastructure are the most likely catalysts for creating demand for new property rights.” I agree wholeheartedly. But not just property rights, but also to encourage innovative alternatives to commodity agriculture.
Thank you for this wonderfully constructive reply, Mpumelelo.
I think it definitely matters how capital assesses risk in villages that operate on trust and openness within the community. Secondly heirloom seeds are vital as these reduce the capital outlay for farming; organic fertilisers must be encouraged to be produced at all villages….further reducing farming costs. Thirdly, the use of gmo seeds (foods) has a direct link to carcinogens.
You raise an interesting point. But in the absence of the first best solution what are other solutions?
Wonder al baie lank wat die impak sal wees op die ekonomie as 1) daai bestaansboere en 2) ontvangers van HOP-huise bloot aktes ontvang, en hulle toelaat om daarmee handel te dryf. Nes hulle wil. Voeg sommer boere en gemeenskappe wat gebaat het by onteiening.