Farm Workers Take Ownership of Successful Farming Operation (Vuki)

Mr Cobus Dowry, Minister of Agriculture in the Western Cape will on Friday 5 August symbolically hand over approximately 315 hectares of land (Vuki Farm) in Grabouw to emerging farmers.

Initially the farm was liquidated but after a long and tedious process with various role-players and interested parties, including commercial banks and development agencies, agreement was reached this week. In the meantime farming operations continued and the former farm workers (Vuki) have successfully turned a once hopeless situation around and is now extremely successful. In fact they have now set a goal for themselves to become the blueprint for an empowerment model in the agricultural sector.

They have already gained Eurogap and Fairtrade export status and are already exporters of apples, pears and citrus and delivers wine grapes to a well-known winemaker.

The Vuki Trust will now take ownership of the farm and 42 families will be beneficiaries of this land reform process.

Date: Friday, 5 August 2005
Time: 14:00
Venue: Vuki Farm (Map on request )
Enquiries: Alie van Jaarsveld
Cell: 084 604 6701
Tel: 021 483 4700

Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Email: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za

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