Director of Proceedings,
President of the International Dairy Federation, Mr Richard Doyle,
Distinguished delegates and guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Good Morning!
Sanibonani!
Karibu!
Bon Jour!
Buenos dias!
Buongiorno!
Chokran!
Salaam Alaikum!
On behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of South Africa, I would like to extend a warm African welcome to all delegates from different corners of the world. We are proud to be hosting this important summit for the world dairy industry; in this beautiful city of Cape Town with its majestic Table Mountain just across, which has recently been declared as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. We are a people renowned for our hospitality, and I hope that apart from your conference deliberations, you will find time to explore and appreciate the warmth and rich diversity of our country.
The province of the Western Cape, historically, has been home to the Khoi and San people, whose flocks of cattle grazed these plains for many generations. Today the economy of the province is very diverse with agriculture, forestry, fisheries, manufacturing and tourism being some of the key drivers for growth and development in the province.
This 2012 World Dairy Summit, organised by the South African National Committee of the International Dairy Federation, brings together producers, processors, technical experts and various other stakeholders to deliberate the challenges of the sector, and also to share experiences and best practices.
The theme of the summit, ‘World in one country’ is very relevant to the current global economy. South Africa provides an ideal setting for such an event. Our country supports a range of milk farming systems - from intensive total mixed ration to grass fed and dairy ranching.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The South African dairy industry is the third largest livestock sector in the country, with an estimated total turnover of R10 billion at producer level. The total number of milk producers in South Africa stands at 2 347 in 2012. They produce more than 2.6 billion litres of milk and employ more than 30 000 workers. This important sector assists government in addressing some of our challenges, particularly unemployment and poverty.
South Africa has a world-class agro-processing and marketing infrastructure that provides for local needs as well as limited exports of a range of dairy products – largely to countries on our continent. We also supply a wide range of dairy equipment from global companies to other countries on the continent. Notwithstanding this reality, the potential of our agro-processing sector is not fully recognised. It accordingly remains unexploited and is in need of investment.
The Marketing of Agricultural Products Act of 1996 effectively deregulated State managed marketing infrastructure and empowered Milk SA, a non-profit company, to collect compulsory levies from the secondary dairy industry. These levies are used for consumer education, the improvement of dairy quality through Dairy Standard Agency, market signals and the empowerment of previously disadvantaged individuals through training and Research.
The global milk producer sector includes smallholder farmers as well as medium and large scale producers. The dairy industry plays a critical role in ensuring global food security through the diverse range of its product offerings, including fresh milk, cheese, cream and yoghurt. It also ensures employment and income generation for millions of men and women across the globe. In this way, the sector ensures that basic needs of people are met, and their standard of living is increased.
I am of the firm conviction, ladies and gentlemen, that working together with government, particularly in developing countries like ours, the dairy industry can play a significant role in our efforts to promote the consumption of nutritious foods. It is with this in mind that we call upon the industry to support our call for a glass of milk per child per day.
Less known is the fact that dairy cows in sustainable grassland farming systems contribute to the mitigation of climate change, through the storage of greenhouse carbon and the improvement of the soil while providing us with much needed milk at the same time.
With this in mind, let me mention to you that a large portion of the milk that is produced in the Western Cape Province is off planted pastures. Hopefully, delegates will have the opportunity to visit some of the farms as well as the agricultural development centre outside George that has a team of world class grassland and dairy/ animal scientists who provide an integrated service to our farmers. In fact, a group of dairy farmers from Mozambique will shortly be attending a course at this institute as part of a bilateral cooperation program between South Africa and Mozambique.
This effort has been highly successful and it was gratifying to note that the Consumer Education Project of Milk SA in 2011 received the award for best campaign in the World from the International Dairy Federation, and Dairy Standard Agency. The work conducted in respect of training in the secondary dairy industry, also received South African awards for excellence.
Of interest, we have a producer in the Western Cape province milking water buffalos and producing a quality Mozzarella cheese - and some of the delegates may have the opportunity to visit this farm as well.
Ladies and gentlemen, you have a comprehensive conference program, and I am pleased to note that you have included a session on the emerging dairy sector that covers very interesting topics such as the health benefits and food security associated with dairy products in developing countries. The issue of emerging famers is a topic close to my heart, as we continue with our efforts to reverse our country’s unpleasant history of discrimination and disempowerment. Furthermore, the gender question will continue to assume greater prominence during this century, also in the sphere of agriculture.
We facilitate the granting of finance and access to markets to many emerging farmers, and this includes female farmers. My department has established an annual awards ceremony, the national Female Entrepreneur Award, whereby women farmers are identified and rewarded for their efforts in the sector.
Women are also key players in our efforts to expand the sector and to increase food security for all, which makes their participation in for a like these critically important. I look forward to feedback on the session that focuses on the emerging dairy farmer in particular, and trust that this will become a standard item for future summits.
With these few remarks, I formally declare the World Dairy Summit open and wish you well in your deliberations over the next few days. I trust that deliberations will benefit all those taking part and that you will have a pleasant stay in South Africa.
Siyabonga!
Thank you!
Dankie!
Merci!
Gracias!
Obrigado!
