Freimersheim agricultural association: commercial smallholder potato farmers in a Southern Cape land reform project

Abstract

This example of land use by beneficiaries of land made available through a Settlement and Land Acquisition Grant (SLAG) project was selected for inclusion into the study because those farmers engaged in potato cultivation do so predominantly for commercial purposes. Relative to the size of the original beneficiary group, only a handful of beneficiaries are still actively engaged in crop production. Most of these sell their seasonal harvests to local residents in the village and to hawkers (street vendors) in the neighbouring coastal towns. However, one farmer collaborates with his employer and through this relationship is able to produce potatoes and vegetable crops for the commercial fresh produce market or on contract to a local subsidiary of an international food processing and packaging company. In essence, while most active farmers are engaged in producing for the 'second economy', one farmer, who rents land that is owned by other SLAG beneficiaries, is able to produce for the 'first economy' by virtue of his relationship with his employer. Interestingly, this farmer is not one of the original SLAG beneficiaries but is a resident on a neighbouring farm.