Motsamaisa tiro ya lenaneo la gompieno
Meyara wa Greater Taung Local Municipality, Cllr Kaone Lobelo
Balekgotla botlhe ba ba tsogileng le rona gompieno
Bogosi jwa rona jo bo tlotlegang
Tlhogo ya lefapha la Temothuo le Tlhabololo ya magae, Dr Kgabi Mogajane
Kemedi go tswa kwa Unibesithing ya Bokone Bophirima
Balemirui le bataki ba rona go tswa kwa dikgaolong tse di farologaneng tsa sedika sa Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati
Dikemedi go tswa kwa mekgatlhong ee farologaneng ya balemirui
Badiredi puso, segolo thata ba ba dirisanang le balemi ba rona,
Baeng ba tlotlego,
Bagaetsho dumelang,
Motsamaisa-tiro ke rata go simolola ka go leboga batho botlhe ba ba fano, ba ba tlogetseng ditiro tsa bona tsa moso wa letsatsi la
Lamatlhatso, go tla go ema nokeng balemirui-potlana le bataki ba rona
Go tla fano ga bona go supa fa ba ka tshepagala le mo isagong, mme re lo netefaletsa gore ga le kitla le ikwatlhaela tshwetso ya go tla go nna le rona mosong ono.
Programme Director, I understand that we are here today to launch the Taung Farmers’ Market, and I think as we will be doing that, we should also celebrate. Having launched the concept in Mahikeng, exactly about four months ago, we are confident that the concept has got potential to address the very challenges which led to its conception.
This occasion confirms that the Farmers’ Market idea has been tried and tested, and after four months of being on trial in Mahikeng, with all applicable resources, it has proved to be the way to go.
It is important to highlight ladies and gentlemen that during the Mahikeng launch, we had given ourselves a six months period, after which the impact of this idea would be assessed before rolling it out to other districts, but because of its immeasurable success, we decided to waste no time and allow other smallholder farmers in the province to add to the success of this project.
Moreover, the manner in which Taung farmers responded to the trial run which we had here a month ago, gave us more confidence to look forward to today.
Bagaetsho,
Go botlhokwa gore re itse gore ke eng se lefapha le batsaya-karolo botlhe ba ikaelelang go se fitlhelela ka mmaraka ono, mme ke rata go kaya dintlha di ka nna nne:
Sa ntlha ke go thusa balemirui-potlana gore ba nne le mmaraka wa selegae o ba ka rekisetsang dikuno tsa bona kwa go ona.
Sa bobedi ke go thusa baagi gore ba fitlhelele dijo ka ditlhwatlwa tse di kwa tlase, segolo thata merogo le maungo jaaka re itse gore mebele ya rona e tlhoka dijo tseno thata.
Sa boraro ke go fedisa yo ka leleme la seeng re reng ke “middle man”, ka maitlhomo a go thusa balemirui gore ba nne le letseno go tswa mo dithekisong tsa bona.
Sa bone e leng sa bofelo, ke go rotloetsa tlhagiso ya dijo (food production) le go netefatsa fa rotlhe re nna le dijo kwa malapeng a rona.
All these are done with one purpose, to fight poverty and promote food security which is about four specific dimensions namely: Adequate availability of food, Accessibility of food, Utilisation, quality and safety of food, as well as Stability of supply.
With everything that is being said about the results of climate change Programme Director, food production and food security become even more critical, because a growing and more affluent world population is continuing to raise demand for food.
Ke ka moo re boneng go le botlhokwa gore re nne le mmaraka wa mofuta ono, gonne re itse gore dimmaraka di mo mabogong a balemirui ba khomeshiale fela. Mme fa puso e sa tlhokomele se se diriwang ke balemirui-potlana, go tshwana fela le fa re sa dire sepe mo temothuong.
It is therefore critical for the government of the day to ensure that a platform is created in an effort to support smallholder farmers, as this would not only enhance the world’s food security goals, but would make a significant dent in poverty. Leaving our developing farmers out of the equation will push many into greater poverty and hunger.
Our view is that the establishment and facilitation of the farmers’ market is imperative for the survival of the smallholder producers, who might, when well-organised, share the envisaged market infrastructure and transport, resulting in some positive economies of the scale.
We have done our ground work Programme Director, and notwithstanding the fact that the competition for sale of produce is tough out there, we are convinced that if managed properly, this informal type of an initiative will go a long way in creating viable opportunities for value added and on-farm processing.
Besides, this platform will also allow for social interactions, production and market information sharing and networking amongst buyers and sellers.
Mo dipuisanong tsa rona le boeteledipele ba mmasepala wa rona wa selegae le ba bogosi, re dumalane gore re tshwanetse go dira gore mmaraka ono o nne mo lefelong le le ka fitlhelelwang bonolo ke botlhe, mme lefelo le re leng mo go lone le supilwe jaaka le le maleba.
As we will be continuing with the market on a fortnightly basis, we will ensure that systems are in place for adherence to public health issues, and that business rules and regulations are not compromised.
I want to thank the North West University, Mmabana Taung, the Traditional Authority and the Greater Taung Local Municipality for their unwavering support, as these institutions did not chase us away when we knocked at their doors for ideas and technical advice.
A special word of appreciation goes to all participating agricultural organisations for understanding the need for all of us to come together and do something about the future of our smallholders.
I want to also applaud farmers themselves for welcoming the idea of the informal farmers’ market, and taking advantage of the platform created in anticipation of their development. And lastly I want to congratulate the department for continuing to put the interest of our clients top in the business agenda, and I hope that we will all continue to work together
to see this project through.
I think it is also important for you to note that as we officially launch this project, we will during operate from 6h00 till 10h00. You are all encouraged to support and promote this project. Very important on the part of farmers and everybody who will be participating in this project, the success and sustainability of this project is in your hands. Please see it through. Failure has never been the keyword associated with this project before, so it must not start here. Put your hands together, and run with it. You will not regret.
Programme Director, with those few words, it gives me great pleasure to officially declare this unique project officially launched and open for the public. A re tsweleleng go fepa sechaba.
Ke a leboga.
