Agricultural Landholdings Bill not well thought through
23 March 2017
Ever since 2011, the concept of land ceilings has been hotly debated. A number of studies have been done on the feasibility of such a measure and many articles have been written about it. Some of the advisors appointed by Minister Nkwinti’s own department had advised against such a step. Agri SA has made it very clear why the organisation regards this as an ill-considered idea. Nonetheless, Minister Nkwinti has decided to publish the draft Bill on 17 March, allowing only 30 calendar days for public comments. Agri SA will request an extension of the deadline.
Ernest Pringle, the chairman of Agri SA’s Policy Committee on Agricultural Development, said that international experience with ceilings demonstrated that land ceilings had very many negative impacts, including:
The fragmentation of agricultural land;
Affecting productivity adversely;