Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fishery, Mr Dan Jørgensen,
Industry captains and CEOs,
Agriculture unions,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to our beautiful country. I hope you have experienced a healthy dose of Ubuntu and hospitality. Ubuntu is South Africa’s contribution to the world. It means, “I am, because you are”. This is the invisible bond that we share, and the gel that holds our great nation together. Ubuntu.
The invitation to attend this seminar today came as we mark over a hundred days since a new administration took its seat. Its also over a hundred days that I have been the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
My work, to date, has been spread along many responsibilities and areas, both domestically and internationally. I have spent countless hours meeting stakeholders from the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. I did not realize how may there were until invitations started coming in! I have been greatly pleased by the unity shown by the sector and unanimous agreement that co-operation is the only vehicle to take the sector to great heights.
I have been amazed by the passion of commercial farmers who bear the tough responsibility of ensuring our countrymen have sufficient food. I have also come across extremely hard working smallholder producers who work, through rain and sunshine, to produce food and create livelihoods for their families. The farming unions have kept me informed about the loopholes and opportunities, and of course, the media is also keeping a very close eye on what we do.
I am pleased to be here today. Thank you for inviting me to discuss an issue that sits very close to my heart.
Agriculture is the foundation of developing nations. In South Africa, agriculture has been identified as having the potential to be a key job creator. In fact, the President has given the agriculture sector the challenge to create a million jobs by 2030. We also have a food security and nutrition policy that is our guiding document for food production.
This seminar on best practice in agriculture makes one think hard about the interventions we are undertaking, especially because we are a developing nation.
As a developing economy, South African agriculture has realised that it needs to ensure a healthy agricultural industry that contributes to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), food security, social welfare, job creation and ecotourism. In fact, contribution to the economy, job creation and food security are the key pillars of our sector.
We are looking at the long-term sustainability of the sector, and in doing so, we also have to ask ourselves very tough questions about conservation and prevention.
We are looking at all training opportunities for the youth to get specialist skills in agriculture. We want to cultivate a prosperous future, and building partnerships is central to this. We therefore welcome exchange programmes for professionals and graduates.
Ladies and gentlemen, South Africa’s greatest task is to bring under utilized land under production. In total, we plan to bring a million hectares under production to deal with rural poverty. Our stakeholders in agriculture have committed themselves to assisting government. Many are already going out of their way to contribute to a bountiful sector, and we appreciate.
What we have to do is to adopt the best farming practices for long-term productivity and also ensure profitable yields and the well-being of farmers and farm workers.
The timing of this seminar comes at a time when the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries is hosting a conference on caring for land. This year, South Africa is hosting the 6th Biennial National National Landcare Conference. During the course of the conference, participants will share lessons, best practices, technological advances, and policy feedback on LandCare. The conference also provides a platform to recognize farming communities, partners and land users who have distinguished themselves in advancing the LandCare approach to agricultural production and to the protection and rehabilitation of degraded agricultural natural resource.
Let me get to the crux of what brings me here today and express my gratitude at having been invited to talk about a topic that is clearly so close to my heart.
South Africa’s relationship with Denmark is premised on development cooperation. Denmark is one of the South Africa`s important trading and investment partners in the EU27. In 2012, Denmark ranked 11th as the largest export destinations for South Africa in the EU27, while the country ranked 15th as the source of imports from the EU27. By comparison, South Africa is the biggest importer of Danish goods, followed by Egypt and Nigeria; while Algeria is the biggest African exporter to Denmark; ahead of South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt and Libya.
Denmark has invested in approximately 8 projects in South Africa. Direct investment volumes are estimated at about R459 million during the period January 2008 to April 2014, the main sectors being the financial services, business services, chemicals, engines & turbines, communications, transportation, alternative/ renewable energy. These projects by seven Danish Companies have created an estimated 112 jobs.
I hope we will see more co-operation in the agriculture. The department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries is ready to talk, we are ready to engage and we are ready to move.
I hope your stay in South Africa will be very fruitful. If you have time please visit some museums, soak up on our heritage – South Africa celebrates Heritage Day tomorrow – and I hope you will also enjoy the wonderful cuisine that our country is renowned for.
Thank you!
