Are land reform farms going to waste?

Abstract

Since its inception in 1995, South Africa's land reform programme has been severely criticised. But are these criticisms valid and supported by evidence? Tim Hart, Peter Jacobs, Godfrey Mokwatlo and Precious Chauke perceive interesting patterns that are emerging in some areas with respect to land usage for agricultural purposes.

Criticisms against the land reform programme include lack of coordinated state support, lack of finances and credit, the increasing shift away from the poor to relatively better-off beneficiaries and the wastage of scarce natural resources. The list seems endless.