KwaZulu-Natal land reform yields potato success
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Mondli Ngcobo and three other directors of Nongalaza Logistics (Pty) Ltd operate a multicommodity agricultural enterprise in the Impendle Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. The enterprise operates on 488.4 ha, owned by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), under a 30-year lease agreement.
Roughly 20 ha of arable land are dedicated to potato production, while the remaining 463 ha comprise natural veld used for a beef cattle enterprise. An additional 0.438 ha are allocated to infrastructure and areas classified as wasteland.
Public private partnership
The commodity approach partnership model, adopted by DALRRD to accelerate service delivery and ensure the sustainability of land reform and post-settlement support, has seen Potatoes SA appointed as the implementing commodity partner through a service level agreement.
Potatoes SA provides technical guidance, ensures industry alignment, and facilitates market integration. This commodity-based implementation model has proven highly effective, delivering coordinated technical support, accountability, and access to structured markets. The work and support the DALRRD provides through this approach is commendable, as the model demonstrably surpasses many traditional support programmes in terms of impact.
Ngcobo and his family are now benefiting from the programme, having received comprehensive funding approval from the DALRRD through the Land Development Support (LDS) programme. The funding package includes equipment for potato production, a potato washing and sorting machine, production inputs, the construction of a residential house and an agricultural shed, as well as operational costs to support day-to-day farming activities.
These investments significantly improve production efficiency, postharvest handling, and operational sustainability, while laying a solid and reliable foundation for commercial-scale farming.
Technical capacity and mentorship
In October last year, the producers launched their first commercial potato production cycle, planting 10 ha under rain-fed conditions. Central to the success of this initiative has been the mentorship and practical guidance provided by established commercial producers, most notably John Campbell. His voluntary commitment highlights the transformative role that experienced commercial producers can play in empowering emerging producers.
Through hands-on technical support and strategic planning, Campbell has strengthened operational capacity and demonstrated the power of collaboration across sectors.
This mentorship has been reinforced by full-time support from Taslos Magubane of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Land Reform, Potatoes SA, and the technical and administrative oversight of the DLRRD team, led by Dikeledi Pitso, director of LDS.
The first production season was successful, with yields estimated at 40 t/ha. Produce will be marketed through the Durban Fresh Produce Market, with additional volumes targeted for export to Mozambique.
The project aligns closely with the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), particularly its objectives of expanding agro-processing capacity, creating employment opportunities, and strengthening inclusive value chains. The introduction of on-farm washing and sorting equipment supports value addition at farm level, while increased production is expected to stimulate downstream activities such as logistics, packaging, and market distribution, contributing directly to rural economic development and local job creation.
Dignity restoration and growth
The project also carries significant personal and social meaning. The lead producer has expressed deep appreciation for the support received, describing the initiative as the fulfilment of his late father’s lifelong dream of becoming a commercial potato producer. The project represents a break from generational challenges, transforming aspirations into viable commercial participation.
As agrarian scholar Ben Cousins noted: “Land reform succeeds when land access is combined with appropriate capital, skills, institutional support, and access to markets.” The Nongalaza Logistics (Pty) Ltd project reflects this principle in practice, demonstrating how coordinated land reform, commodity-driven implementation, and policy alignment can unlock rural potential. – Rendani Murovhi, transformation manager, Potatoes SA
For more information, send an email to rendani@potatoes.co.za or visit www.potatoes.co.za.