The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development fails to assist emerging farmers in this province through the Agripark programme. Agriparks are meant to be hubs that help improve agricultural productivity by creating jobs and assisting farmers with marketing and skills development.
This startling discovery was made during an oversight inspection at the Tarlton Agripark in Mogale City. No signs of any additional produce from surrounding farmers were seen during this oversight inspection conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. The Democratic Alliance (DA) observed that many of the 40 tunnels were empty, with only a few sprouting newly planted vegetables. This nullifies the huge investment made by the government.
Among the 11 beneficiaries of this Agripark, only one young, emerging female farmer had a small but well-maintained crop of tender-stem broccoli and peas, providing some hope in the dark Agripark business model.
For far too long, the DA has expressed grave concerns about the ongoing issues surrounding the Agriparks in Gauteng. Several key issues have emerged in the Agriparks, leading to underperformance and dissatisfaction among stakeholders despite millions having been invested by both the national and provincial departments.
The DA has been closely monitoring the performance and management of these Agriparks, and it is clear that there are significant obstacles hindering their success. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Poor infrastructure and maintenance,
• Lack of proper management and oversight,
• Limited access to markets,
• Inadequate training and support for emerging farmers,
• Financial mismanagement.
The DA calls on the department to take immediate action to address these pressing issues and to work with the DA to implement these much-needed reforms. The future of our agricultural sector and the livelihoods of many people in our province depend on it.
A DA government will do a comprehensive audit of the infrastructure needs of each Agripark in the province. This will be followed by a robust plan for upgrading and maintaining these essential facilities. In addition, the DA will establish partnerships with private sector entities to create better market linkages for farmers by improving access to information on market trends and facilitating connections with potential buyers.