South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs is to increase black entrepreneurs in the agricultural business sector by 10 percent in the next two years.
Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana said,"We will also increase agricultural production by 10 to 15 percent. Finally we are going to increase the agricultural trade by 10 to 15 percent."
According to the studies conducted by the department, an estimated 200 000 people are already active in the agricultural sector and 50 000 of these are in the agribusiness industry. Based on the three million hectares already redistributed, it is estimated that approximately 6,750 targeted beneficiaries have already been introduced to the agribusiness industry, she said.
All these targeted beneficiaries will come from new primary producers, farm dwellers, communal farmers and from the new and existing black agribusiness entrepreneurs from the rural, urban, and peri-urban areas.
BUA News