Qualitative assessment of the performance and challenges of the recapitalization and development programme : the case of Buffalo City metropolitan municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa

The Recapitalization and Development Programme (RADP) is a tool which seeks to provide black emerging farmers with the social and economic infrastructure and basic resources that are required to run a successful agricultural business. The RADP’s objectives include: to increase production, to guarantee food security, to graduate emerging farmers to commercial farmers and to create jobs opportunities within the agricultural sector. But above all, the unstated objective of the RADP is to revive failing land reform projects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the RADP, specifically looking at land reform beneficiaries in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Qualitative research was conducted in the form of seven in-depth case studies of RADP-supported land reform projects, together with interviews with four RADP mentors and three government officials. Some of the challenges in the farms before RADP funding was received included: little or no income, high mortality rate of livestock, and lack of skills. The study revealed that the RADP funds contribute to making a difference to the beneficiaries’ activities and provide the necessary infrastructure and equipment for sustainable commercial production. Even though there were mostly positive responses from the beneficiaries, some were dissatisfied with their mentors because the feel that some mentors do not understand their role and responsibilities. Most beneficiaries who appreciated the mentorship programme seem to be older people. However, the impact as mentioned by the mentors is not sustainable due to the short duration of support by the government both in terms of the mentorship and financial support to the projects