He urged caution when it came to the matter of foreign ownership of land, saying that international trade and foreign investment were critical to the game industry.
#LandReformIndaba WRSA strategically well-aligned to move on land reform but partnerships need some freedom from land claims – Barry York
— Nan Smith (@Nan_Smith4) March 20, 2015
No animal had as much potential for positive economic outcomes in rural transformation as the rhino, he added. Rhino horn was now worth an estimated R700 000/kg which could be harvested from animals without killing them.
Communities would certainly work towards protecting such an asset, said York.
“We need foreign investment,” said Jeff Every, Eastern Cape transformation leader. “I don’t care where the money comes from, my job is to uplift communities.”
Every said there were too many unemployed young people in the country. Partnerships, significant funding, a decent policy environment, and keeping the focus on business was the way to grow a vibrant, young, black commercial farming sector.