Land Act sows discord

PROTEST: AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL LAND, NOT PROTECT IT - FARMERS' UNION

- Masoka Dube

Farmers are not happy about the promulgation of the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Act recently signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa said the law will ensure that agricultural land supports long-term food production and that agriculture contributes to economic growth.

He said the law was in line with the government's priorities for the sustainable management and use of natural resources.

"The law creates an enabling environment for the development of the agricultural sector and an increased contribution by this sector to economic growth."

"The law seeks to protect and preserve agricultural land and its productive use to ensure that agricultural land is available and viable for the development of the sector," said Ramaphosa.

He said the legislation sets out the purpose of provincial agricultural sector plans to secure the coordination of agricultural land use policies and preserve a sustainable agricultural environment.