In
recent years the agricultural sector has undergone drastic changes.
It was formerly a highly regulated sector with subsidies and financial
concessions
available to farmers, often at high cost. Since 1980, there has been
a gradual reduction in agricultural support measures.
Export subsidies have been phased out and agricultural control boards that guaranteed secure markets for farmers were disbanded. Marketing is deregulated and the sector now has to respond to price signals in a free market. A major concern is to maximise viable and sustainable employment in agriculture.
The UCDP believes in sustainable, equitable and efficient agricultural development. We will:
Encourage the development of the small-farming sector, as well as develop a more diverse support system for farmers. This will involve the integration of disadvantaged and small-scale participants into the mainstream of agriculture;
Provide market access for disadvantaged market participants and recommendations to integrate them into a viable and sustainable agricultural system;
Make funds available to train farmers and offer bursaries to students to study agriculture at tertiary institutions;
Encourage farmers to form co-operatives to market their products;
Make available land for tilling and rearing livestock; and
Subsidise farmers, especially in times of famine.