Speech delivered by the Hon Senzeni Zokwana, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at the Motsepe Foundation Workshop
Programme Director,
Ministers present,
Deputy Ministers present,
The Chairperson of Motsepe Foundation,
Traditional Leadership,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen
Let us all applaud Mr Patrice Motsepe for his vision and for heart that is so patriotic that you choose to be a responsible business person. Thank you. May God give us more corporate leaders who are willing to uplift the rural tribal communities? Secondly we must commend you for the vision of choosing not to give communities fish but rather empower them to fish. I am impressed that you chose to collaborate with traditional leaders, communities and government to build sustainable development and self-sustenance in these rural communities.
Agriculture is the way to go in building sustainable livelihoods and transform the rural economy. Mr Motsepe, this approach you are taking is contributing towards radical socio-economic transformation in the rural space. I am pleased to speak at this nation building event which seeks to promote partnerships with our Traditional Leaders and communities for improved economic and financial resilience. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is committed to the growth and development of all producer categories, which are subsistence, smallholder and commercial. These categories of producers are mostly located in Traditional areas and are made up of communities. The need for strong partnerships with Traditional Leaders and the same communities is even more providential.
The mandate of my department has been reinforced by the recommendations and targets in the National Development Plan (NDP), the New Growth Path (NGP) and the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP). The National Development Plan visualizes that “there is a real opportunity to build a stronger economy and reduce poverty and inequality.” We can achieve this;
- Realizing the NDP target that agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors can create 1 million jobs by 2030.
- We implement the Fetsa Tlala Integrated Food Production Initiative target to deliver 1 million hectares by 2019.
- We want to support 300 000 smallholder producers by 2019 as envisaged in the New Growth Path
- Lastly, we intend to expand 1, 5 million hectares under irrigation by revitalizing the existing schemes and add new irrigated hectares.
The most disturbing development challenge is that
- The hungriest people and the most vulnerable people are in communal and rural areas.
- The most underutilized land is in the communal areas.
If this is case then it is appropriate to call for closer relations between the Traditional Authorities, their communities, government and the private sector to achieve the full utilization of the targeted 1 million hectares by 2019 and reduce or even eliminate hunger.
The President further stated in the 2015 State of the Nation Address that “We are working with the private sector to develop an Agricultural Policy Action Plan which will bring one million hectares of under-utilised land into full production over the next three years.”
Current work on the Agri-parks as pronounced in the same State of the Nation Address adds positively towards the realisation of the Fetsa Tlala targets, as there would be more secure markets for the produce, especially from the smallholders.
DAFF has prioritised women and youth in agriculture, hence the department participated in the commemoration of the youth month in June. It is however unfortunate that the 2011 census states worrying facts that out of the 14 million households in South Africa only 2.9 million households are reported to be involved in agricultural activities. Of the 2.9 million households involved in agriculture youth aged between 15 – 34 represents the least figure of 478 463 or 16.6% compared to 1.2 million (42.8%) of those aged 35-55 with the last grouping aged between 56 and 65 representing 1.1 million or 40.6%. Youth involvement in agriculture is highest in KwaZulu-Natal at 22% followed by Eastern Cape with 16.9% and Limpopo with 16%. Youth involvement in agriculture is slowest in the Northern Cape at 1.8% followed by 3.3% for the Western Cape and 6.7% in the North West. These are the provinces that youth empowerment programmes in agriculture should focus in.
DAFF continues to strengthen participation of state and non-state partners in the sector towards improved food security and job creation, hence our interest in this gathering.
The current support programmes aimed at developing our farmers, such as the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and Ilima/Letsema will only make a significant contribution if partnerships with our non-state partners are strengthened. We welcome the partnership and would like to confirm the following from my department and other departments in the economic cluster;
- We want to support and maximize the use of land for food production in the communal areas. Together with the Departments of Rural Development, the dti and Science and Technology we shall provide support in the forms skills, production inputs and the needed infrastructure and technology.
- The vision of sustainable communities and smallholder producers promoting local food networks within the identified agri--parks and reaching markets at national and beyond our borders is realistic and can be achieved.
- Where producer cooperatives exist we are working with the Department of Small Business Development to strengthen governance systems so that cooperatives can outlive the challenges of development.
We are however calling on our leaders to mobilize their communities toward ensuring all available agricultural land is used either by them or their neighbours. If your lands need replanning, government shall assist you. This partnership will do well not to be seen as platform to enrich individuals even if they are leaders but to uplift communities. Self- sustenance will only be realized if those who can work their land do it themselves. Sustenance will come when those who can pay for services willingly pay for the services they use. Yes we need an accountable government, and we are equally responsible citizenry.
Let this partnership be strong, we welcome the initiative of the Motsepe Foundation for better South Africa. Let’s have more partners knocking at our doors.
Thank you
