Windhoek
The latest study on the Land Reform Programme in Commercial Land on Employment Creation has found that the National Resettlement Programme (NRP) has failed to create jobs compared to the Affirmative Action Loan Scheme (AALS).
According to the study conducted by the University of Namibia (Unam)’s Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC) on behalf of the Ministry of Land Reform released last week, AALS farmers recruited an average of four employees per farm as 36 AALS farms had a total of 1 367 employees, while 224 employees were recruited on 122 NRP farms, which translates to an average of only two employees per farm. The study targeted eight regions, which contain commercial farms namely: Erongo, Hardap, //Kharas, Khomas, Kunene, Omaheke, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa focusing on AALS and NRP farmers and farm workers.The study also stated that on average, AALS farmers created more employment compared to their NRP counterparts whose farm employment remained stagnant.
The study says despite declining farm employment, both AALS and NRP farmers asserted that while the figures for employment creation were better at the start of their farming careers compared to the present, they regard this as a sign of progress. According to the report, this assertion is made on the basis that despite the difficulties faced by farmers at inception they were able to recruit a higher number of farm workers even if these have decreased over time.
“When one compares the level of employment among emerging AALS commercial farmers (4 per farm) to those of the experienced white commercial farmers (7 per farm), the land reform programmes are commendable for their efforts towards creating jobs in a short period of time,” states the study. The report further says, although both the NRP and AALS have not proven to completely address the job losses experienced during the acquisition of land by government for resettlement or waiving its rights for AALS candidates, it appears some of the previous workers have been taken up by the land reform programmes either in the form of employment or retirement. According to the report, the NRP and AALS farmers face various challenges that impact negatively on their employment creation potential.The different backgrounds of NRP to AALS farmers in terms of educational and income level suggest that AALS framers bring more prior knowledge and monetary investment compared to NRP farmers all which impacts differently on the progress of farmers in terms of productivity and job creation. The report recommends to the Ministry of Land Reform regional offices to seek regular consultative platforms with farmers and identify the needs of farmers in order to enhance employment creation.
It further advises the Land Reform Ministry to develop incentives for highly productive NRP farmers in the form of graduating to AALS with some endowment or assistances in order to avoid limitations in farming and productivity.
The study investigated the extent to which the land reform programme has contributed to job creation in the commercial agricultural sector of Namibia with the aim to provide a benchmark on the number of people employed under the NRP and AALS among others.