C Dowry: International Schools Milk conference

6 November 2006

As Minister responsible for Agriculture in the Western Cape, I am proud to
be associated with the milk in schools programme through my department.

As a province and a country we are honoured to host this very important 4th
international schools milk conference in South Africa against the backdrop of
the effects of poverty and the specific effect that it has on the most
vulnerable component of society, namely our children. The purpose of this
conference, as I understand it, is to deliberate on the contribution and effect
of the provision of milk to our children in schools all over the world and its
integral part in the food security programmes in various countries.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations acknowledges the
contribution of different cultures to fight the effects of poverty through
agriculture and argues that sincere international and intercultural dialogue is
a precondition for progress against hunger and starvation. The Constitution of
our country recognises food security as a fundamental human right.

South Africa as a country is largely self sufficient in food; yet, some of
our people are faced with hunger and malnutrition. There are also a number of
South Africans who are vulnerable to food insecurity. Among these are women,
children and the elderly. It is true that many people are still going hungry
every day in South Africa and in the Western Cape. It is sad that this often
occurs within walking distance from full granaries and packing sheds. Or, in
other words, the food is available, but people do not have the money to buy
food. Thus, a food security strategy that is based on two legs is followed. The
first is to enable people to have the financial measures to buy food and the
second is to help people to produce their own food within their limited
means.

In the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme, designed at
national level, agriculture is seen as a major contributor to food security.
The role of agriculture is defined as providing food for the insecure and to
use farming as a means for growing food, which includes the production of milk.
When we look at providing milk to children at school, it is also essential that
we look at the bigger picture with regard to dairy farming and milk
production.

In South Africa we have six major milk producing regions, each with its own
qualities, production potential and markets. You will find two of these regions
in the Western Cape. These two regions produce 500 million litres per annum,
which is 25% of the total of 2 billion litres that is produced in South
Africa.

Our approach is that we should do as much as we can to increase and improve
milk production as it carries many advantages for the various interest
groups.

In this regard I am a firm believer in the contribution of research and
development. The Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape therefore runs a
very intensive research programme on animal production and dairy farming.

The production of milk on farms has developed into a highly scientific
farming exercise that places huge demands on the skills of farmers. Not only
must they have a thorough knowledge of the cow and its management, but they
also have to use highly sophisticated technology in the milking process.

We have recently opened one of the most advanced milk portals in the world
at Elsenburg. Elsenburg is the headquarters of the Department of Agriculture in
the Western Cape, where we also do a lot of our research on animal and milk
production.

We place a lot of emphasis on the research to develop the best systems to
ensure the most cost effective production of milk in the winter rainfall
regions of the Western Cape.

It is also of utmost importance to the South African Government that we
train and equip emerging farmers to produce milk on a sustainable and cost
effective basis.

One of the main considerations for the expansion of the Elsenburg Milking
Parlour was the need for a large enough dairy herd so that effective research
could take place. In the past, although much research emanated from the
Elsenburg dairy herd, the small cow numbers often required that trials be run
over years before a scientifically defensible answer was obtained. The goal is
now to expand our Elsenburg herd to a dairy herd of 250 cows in milk.

This will allow us to run two to three trials per annum, compared to the
previous situation of a single trial run over three to four years. We are
therefore very excited by the prospect of a larger research herd for the
Western Cape, although I realise that this herd expansion could take years to
achieve. Once these numbers are achieved, not only can research take place more
effectively, but it will also be possible to provide emerging farmers with
improved genetic stock for the development of their own herds.

Our Outeniqua herd from the experimental farm in the Southern Cape region of
our province hash reached its goal of 250 cows in milk a year or so ago. We
have been able to donate superior milk cows to a school near George. A further
30 milk cows will be provided to a black empowerment project in the near
future. I am therefore even more excited by the prospect of seeing an expanded
dairy herd at Elsenburg, which can serve as a source of superior milk cows to
emerging black farmers, who will be the milk producers of the future.

The latter is of great importance in the further development of the milk in
schools programme. As a government we are involved in the ongoing process of
establishing new farmers in our rural areas; who could contribute significantly
to poverty alleviation and address the effects of poverty in their immediate
surroundings. By establishing new farmers who could produce milk in the deep
rural areas that could be utilised for this programme, I believe we will be
addressing some of the logistical problems that are encountered in our
distribution chain.

It all forms part of our government's programme to eradicate poverty through
agriculture and to contribute towards food security.

We believe that the distribution of milk in schools is the most effective
way of providing growing children with the essential nutrients. Cow's milk
contains, on average, 3,4% protein, 3,6% fat, and 4,6% lactose, and supplies 66
kcal of energy per 100 grams. Vitamins D and K are essential for bone health.
Iodine is a mineral essential for thyroid function. Vitamin B12 and riboflavin
are necessary for cardiovascular health and energy production. Biotin and
pantothenic acid are B vitamins important for energy production. Vitamin A is
critical for immune function. Potassium and magnesium are for cardiovascular
health. Selenium is a cancer-preventive trace mineral. Thiamine is a B vitamin
important for cognitive function, especially memory.

Chairperson, we are gathered here because we are all serious about the
wellbeing of our children and we want to look at the challenges that are facing
this specific programme. It is clear that we all realise that we need each
other and that we can learn from each other's experiences.

As South Africans we need to tap into your wealth of experience as some of
your programmes have been running for many years. Some with lesser and some
with more support and even some with resistance to the programme.

In your deliberations you will be looking at critical issues such as the
necessity for a balanced diet in the physical, mental and intellectual
development of children, and the nutritional value of milk in these
processes.

The Department of Agriculture is very conscious of all aspects of food
safety and therefore we are glad to see that you are spending considerable time
in addressing the issue of standards and quality in the provision of milk to
our children.

The importance of the role of both government and the industry should be
understood clearly and therefore your deliberations should be honest and open
in an effort to maximise the benefit of the partnership.

In his State of the Nation Address, in February this year, President Mbeki
placed emphasis on the new season of hope that lies beckoning for us to enter
when he said, "We have known that it would take considerable time before we
could say we have eradicated the legacy of the past. What has been achieved
since Nelson Mandela delivered his first State of the Nation Address, and what
we can do, given the larger resources that have since been generated, has
surely given hope to the masses of our people."

He then went on to introduce to us as a nation, this season of hope. His
words contained a host of challenges that needs to be unlocked, to expose the
seeds of opportunity and hope that would impact meaningful in the lives of
those who are still deprived. I believe that this project can contribute
greatly to that process. I trust that you will have a wonderful and enriching
experience, both in your deliberations and in your stay in South Africa.

Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Tel: (021) 483 4930
Fax: (021) 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
E-mail: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
6 November 2006