Emerging farmers get helping hand from new approach
THE Clairwood Fresh Produce Market has been included in the government’s Radical Agrarian Socio-Economic Transformation (RASET) Programme to assist incipient farmers.
According to eThekwini Municipality, the programme was developed as a way to break down barriers in the food value chain and ensure there is transformation in the agricultural sector.
“This is a government programme aimed at creating an alternative value chain to deal with structural barriers to economic transformation in the agriculture sector,” read a statement by the municipality.
“Government is concerned about the amount of money invested in the sector with no visible impact. It is for this reason that the government has devised a strategy which will provide a platform for historically disadvantaged players to participate in the production, processing and distribution of aspects in the value chain,” said acting deputy city manager, Musa Mbhele.
RASET plans to reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality and is part of the government’s Agri Park programme. A key pillar of the programme, according to Mbhele, is the enhancement of access to government markets in food supply.
“Beneficiation of agricultural products will increase market opportunities for previously disadvantaged farmers and reduce dependency on state support while increasing agricultural land utilisation,” said Mbhele.
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