The Western Cape Department of Agriculture on Tuesday launched a dedicated research fund, with an allocation of R3-million for the current financial year, aimed at boosting exports and bolstering land reform in relation to the province’s alternative crops.

Alternative, smaller crops targeted by the fund, including berries, fynbos, honeybush and pomegranates, had a high market value.

Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan Winde said the provincial government would partner with the fruit industry to explore smaller industries with projected high returns to ensure job creation and economic growth.

He added that the fund would pioneer funding models between the Western Cape government and industry, with a steering committee, including representatives from the department and agriculture industry body Hortgro, having been established to select the projects that would receive funding.

For a project to be eligible for support from the fund it had to contribute to food security, as well as towards realising the objectives of the Agricultural Policy Action Plan.

It further had to have the potential to create jobs and to become economically viable and sustainable, while also being quantified in terms of industry benchmarks by a detailed business plan or proposal.

Meanwhile, the fund was also expected to assist in overcoming land reform challenges by considering new possibilities for the economic involvement of more people.