The official launch of the Producer-Farmer Register (PFR) is a milestone by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
PFR collects data on commercial and smallholder farmers. This includes collecting information on the geography, demography, production activities and infrastructure.
It is the first national register since democracy.
The department has managed to reach all categories of farmers, with the help of agricultural extension officers.
This tool will further help track food producers and assess the overall performance of farmers.
It will also help in the planning with the preservation of food security, eradication of hunger, knowing the geographical location of farmers and monitoring the impact of departmental interventions.
When Minister Thoko Didiza launched the register, she said: "In 2020, we had 95 501 registered farmers. This number is further delineated in terms of provinces. Interesting is that in some provinces, there are more female producers."
The PFR comes at a time when the country is looking at the brighter side of the Cannabis industry, where the focus is to empower rural and small growers.
It will inform the department on growers who are set to apply for licences and those who already have them.
Government must facilitate infrastructure and issue licences to small growers.
- Letter by Mphahlela M Rammutla
