Zimbabwe's controversial land reform policy resulted in the eviction of 4200 white farmers and contributed significantly to the country's economic collapse. Some might argue that South Africa's land reform policy is on par with Zimbabwe's.

Land reform is a sensitive subject in South Africa, we only need to look across the border to realise the harm unproductive land can do to a country's economy. South Africa's land reform redistribution programme aims to hand 30 percent of all land to the previously disadvantaged by 2014.

The implementation of Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Lulu Xingwana's 'Use it or lose it' campaign is perhaps too little too late for dried-out taxpayers as governments' R6.6-billion land-reform budget for the 2008/9 year proved to be insufficient. The 'Use it or lose it' campaign calls on land beneficiaries to use the allocated farmland or face eviction.

The minister announced the campaign during the pre-election hustle and the plan – as is the case with many other initiatives from the land affairs department – was far from transparent. To date, no one knows what the criteria are for an eviction. Furthermore, the minister couldn't say what would happen to the farm once impounded or even how many farms they aim to confiscate.

The campaign's timing raised questions of another ANC election gimmick or perhaps an attempt on the part of the minister to secure a position in the new government following her dismal track record. On 17 March 2009 the minister proved her commitment to the campaign as she reclaimed a R3.5-million ostrich farm in Hammanskraal, outside Pretoria following media reports of mismanagement.

Outraged cash-strapped consumers

It's worth noting that the poor management of the land affairs department's land redistribution programme contributes a great deal to the high food costs. Soaring food prices have outraged cash-strapped consumers. Under minister Xingwana's reign, South Africa has gone from a net food exporter to a net food importer, importing wheat, meat, soya bean and sunflower, amongst other crops. Also under the minister's reign, the Land Bank, a once prominent agricultural finance house descended into a gloomy condition forcing ex-president Thabo Mbeki to hand the administrative powers of the bank to Finance Minister Trevor Manuel in mid-2008.

According to the National Agricultural Marketing Council, food-producing commercial farms in South Africa have declined by 19 percent since 1991 while the country's population has increased by 32 percent during the same period, a percentage which amounts to millions of rands spent on imported goods.

The unemployment rate among farm workers has also increased. Around 1.2 million farm workers worked on white-owned farms in 1994, in 2008 that figure slumped to only 360 000. South Africa's food security came under pressure as unions and government went at each other's throats over the selection of land beneficiaries as many farms ended up in the hands of unskilled blacks.

Grow green fingers overnight

Surely a well-constructed plan should have been put into place to ensure that the productivity of these farms does not go to waste? Did government expect these new farmers to grow green fingers overnight? Only now, fifteen years down the line, with a tally of 566 failed land reform farming projects and sky-high food prices, does the department recognize the flaws in its redistribution programme.

The eviction of land beneficiaries will regrettably cost taxpayers more and it will certainly not solve the problem. A solid support system that includes a compulsory thorough skills-development programme should be provided to these farmers. A local mentor, rather than ill-informed advisers should be readily available. Better-managed agricultural funds – preferably by an improved Land Bank – should support farmers financially. Failing that, these farmers are being set up for disaster and so is South Africa's food security.

For the sake of encouraging agricultural growth in South Africa, for the sake of promoting good governance, for the sake of not becoming the next Zimbabwe, I urge president Jacob Zuma to add pressure on newly appointed Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti.