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According to numerous experts, Russian authorities are currently wooing farmers to live there in the hopes they will boost Russia’s agricultural industry.

It comes as the first test case for land redistribution was announced when the council for the city of Ekurhuleni votes to seize hundreds of acres of land from private owners to build low-cost housing.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa first sent shockwaves around the world this summer when he indicated the country could change its constitution to allow expropriations.

The plans to seize white-owned land without providing compensation were widely condemned, with critics accusing the government of not respecting the rule of law.

And if white farm expropriations pick up pace, it could be Russia that benefits from the skilled labour.

Vladimir Putin’s Government has scrapped tourist visa requirements for South Africans, which it is thought was done to make it easier for them to visit and look at potential homes.

Vladimir Poluboyarenko, a government liaison from the Stavropol region in southern Russia, said: “I want them to know that Russia can be their mother country, too.”

A large visit to Crimea by a number of wine-producing South African farmers is also planned soon.

(Image: GETYY)

(Image: GETTY) (Image: GETTY)

Experts from the country will travel thousands of miles to discuss their trade with locals and look at how they can cooperate in future.

Omri van Zyl, of agricultural industry association AgriSA, said: “The Russian agricultural sector is very interesting to us, and we are also interested in the Russian market.

“We have products that you do not produce in Russia. For example, tropical fruits – mango, lychee.

“As you know, we are going to change the constitution concerning the land expropriation. In Russia 80 years ago there was also a period of expropriation, and this created major economic problems.

“The Russians support us very much from this point of view, because you have already been through this.”