Dr Ramakgodu Mphahlele believes that the most significant issues facing land reform in South Africa today include unproductive land use, often due to a mismatch between farm potential and farmers' ability to fully use the land. Limited market access for ‘new entrants’ to the sector is another challenge, primarily stemming from supply constraints and closed market value chains. Additionally, there is a lack of entrepreneurial traits necessary to sustain commercial enterprises to some extent. Insufficient access to loan financing, challenges such as erratic electricity supply, and unaffordable utility bills also contribute to the complexities of the situation. Moreover, climate change influences variable weather conditions, adding further pressure to agricultural endeavours.

He recently obtained his PhD from the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development during the April Graduation ceremonies. The focus of his PhD thesis was: Evaluating the impact of government support programmes on the development of land reform farms in South Africa.

Dr Mphahlele has been working as an agriculturist since 2004 and has occupied various roles within the agricultural sector in Limpopo. Today, he is employed at the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

Important for social and economic justice

According to him, land reform is important for social and economic justice in South Africa, and agricultural production is important for food security, economic growth, employment, and sustainable livelihoods, among other things. “However, various support mechanisms previously offered by government to develop land reform farms post the 1994 era have reported limited success. Therefore, it was important to investigate this phenomenon in order to suggest mechanisms to implement a land reform programme that addresses social imperatives and promotes sustainable agricultural production,” he remarks.

With his study, Dr Mphahlele made a number of key discoveries. For example, he found that most farmers gained income from farming due to land access and agricultural support. He also observed that partnership effectiveness was insufficient for enhancing most farmers' skillsets. Another key finding was that although land development support fulfilled most of the farmers' desires for commercial farming, farm sustainability might suffer due to insufficient entrepreneurial aptitude. The study also indicated to Dr Mphahlele that comprehensive stakeholder consultation in policy development could enhance policy relevance for addressing potential challenges in farm sustainability.

He believes that the future looks good for land reform and agricultural development in South Africa, based on the firm foundation that has already been laid since the advent of democracy. “This study’s empirical findings reveal the government support programmes’ value in providing access to land and financial resources for commercial agricultural production. Farm development was evident, primarily due to the utilisation of sizable land parcels capable of sustaining commercial farming, coupled with available comprehensive grant funding in excess of millions of rands,” he explains.

However, Dr Mphahlele is of the opinion that this foundation could be improved if all relevant stakeholders within the agricultural sector and social settings work in an integrated manner. He says the findings of his study underline the need for a more streamlined approach to support programmes that involves the active participation of relevant stakeholders, a well-defined funding model, and the selection and capacity building of farmers.

Ensuring the success of commercial ventures

Dr Mphahlele concluded his study by proposing an integrated support model that could be adopted within government support programmes. He believes the model can be adopted and implemented within the government sector, and broadly within the agricultural sector, as it encompasses all facets of support, beginning with policy design for farm development, involvement of farmers in the decision-making process, ensuring access to farms, and establishing support mechanisms.

Based on his research findings, Dr Mphahlele advises policy makers and stakeholders involved in land reform initiatives to align farmers' aspirations with the necessary entrepreneurial attributes to ensure the success of commercial ventures. He also emphasises the importance of involving all relevant stakeholders in policy making.

Additionally, he recommends conducting due diligence for partnership arrangements, meticulously structuring and adopting an integrated support model, subjecting it to periodic evaluations of its impact, and opening it up to continuous improvements. He suggests that a combination of grant funding and loan funding could ensure sustained financial support. Moreover, he highlights the importance of skills development and incubation processes for enhancing farmers' entrepreneurship.