Preserving and sustainably managing agricultural land is crucial for South Africa’s economic stability, environmental health, and social well-being. Agriculture, as a primary sector, contributes to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), which is important for economic development, social stability, food security, and environmental sustainability.
The National Development Plan, Vision 2030 (“NDP”), and Medium Term Strategic Framework identify rural development and food security as a key pillar of the government strategy in combating poverty and hunger.
In alignment with international practices and food security concerns, the agricultural sector is regulated by a legislative framework. This framework is a dynamic evolving process at the national, provincial, and district levels. Multiple pieces of legislation overlap, contradict and impede sufficient implementation, management, and monitoring. The integration of the Preservations and Development of Agricultural Land Bill (PDALB), Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA), Deeds Registries Act, and Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act (SALA) is an example of the challenge experienced.
High-potential agricultural land is limited in South Africa, hampering expansion. Urbanisation and mining negatively affect the availability of land. A spatial statistical analysis in 2011 by the then Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries indicated that the surface area of arable agricultural land that had been converted to non-agricultural uses through urban and mining developments equals the size of the Kruger National Park. The table below shows the results that emerged from the spatial evaluation.
Subdivision and fragmentation of available and viable agricultural land must be considered carefully to avoid uneconomical farming units as this might hamper agricultural productivity and threaten economic stability, growth, and food security.
It is critical that PDALB is enacted and signed by the president as soon as possible. Farmers should be critical of subdivision and rather consider consolidation or notarial ties of their land parcels to protect the non-renewable resource essential to South Africa’s economy, job creation, rural development, food security, and sustainability.
