On a winter evening in 2014, about 20 farmers gathered to “dream of a better future for our Witzenberg community”. That meeting marked the beginning of the Partners in Agri Land Solutions (PALS) initiative in Ceres in the Western Cape.
A framework was created within which a commercial farmer could collaborate with an emerging farmer, and farm workers could share in the profits.
Lennox Plaatjies, a farmer and the national liaison officer of PALS, says this network offers invaluable support to emerging farmers – from leadership training to practical skills that help them to push socio-economic boundaries.
“The building blocks of true success are unwavering commitment and a collaborative attitude,” he says.
In the video, Lennox talks about PALS’ successes and how they do not shy away from difficult conversations in the pursuit of a better South Africa.
Also read: PALS drives dozens of land projects in 10 years
Solutions for the Platteland
At the 2024 Solutions for the Platteland conference in Bothaville – hosted by Landbouweekblad, sister publication to African Farming – farmers and other planners from the platteland shared stories of upliftment and hope. These are South Africa’s best planners: people who are rolling up their sleeves to build a better country.
The conference inspired a three-part documentary series, Oplossings vir die Platteland (Solutions for the Platteland), which was broadcast on kykNET.
Watch Lennox’s talk at the conference, “5 Strategies for equitable land reform”.
Learn more about PALS here: https://projekte.landbou.com/pals/index.html
Also read: Minister praises PALS for bold stand on land reform and farmer support
