Agriculture Reporter
Resettled farmers can now enter into share-cropping and joint ventures, but must meet set conditions and first get approval from the Minister of Lands Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Anxious Masuka, with sharing or subleasing of resettlement farms banned.

This seeks to safeguard the interests of both parties to the agreement and enhance agricultural production, productivity and profitability on farms in support of the Agricultural Food Systems Transformation Strategy, which is an important component in the attainment of Vision 2030.

A1 and A2 farmers are not allowed to share or sublet their farms as this will result in their offer letters being withdrawn.

Minister Masuka outlined the requirements for joint ventures in a notice he issued yesterday.

He said that all joint ventures, current and proposed for the present season onwards should be regularised and approved by him by November 30.

Minister Masuka said it was illegal to sublease agricultural land under the Land Reform Programme.

“Under the Land Commission Act owners or occupiers of land to which the Act applies were barred from share–cropping deals without a written agreement approved by the minister,” read part of the notice. “Therefore, no beneficiary of the Land Reform Programme can enter into any sharecropping agreement without the approval of the Minister responsible for Lands.”