6 September 2006
Hundreds of Agri North West (Agri NW) members are gathered in Rustenburg for
a two-day annual congress. Among others, a new leadership for this agricultural
body will be elected.
Among others, the congress was aimed at investigating the influence of the
transformation of 30% of commercial agricultural land and the full
implementation of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) in agriculture on the rural
economy.
The congress will also look at the effect of further urbanisation and the
pressure on local government structures, ordinary small businesses and the
commercial agricultural sector to sustain food production.
Premier Edna Molewa, speaking on behalf of the MEC for Agriculture,
Conservation and Environment, said the type of leadership Agri North West wants
is very critical at the point of development for the people and the
agricultural community.
"We acknowledged the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in general
and our own Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
specifically. In particular, we committed the provincial government to deploy
all available resources in the sector to boost rural development and assist
both commercial and emergent farmers."
"We made these commitments in the firm belief that agriculture is one of the
critical pillars of our provincial economy and that without its growth we can
never attain our target of growing the economy by 6% or more and contributing
to our national effort for economic growth, development and national prosperity
in line with both our Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) and the
Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA)," she
continued.
Molewa said she acknowledged Agri NW's commitment through its leadership to
the PGDS, as they have demonstrated by participating in the agriculture and
agri-business working group and other government-led fora, including the land
reform structures meant to shape the country's economy.
"The other critical matter I would like to raise relates to the progress
regarding BEE, that is, the pace of transformation in the way Agri NW is
implementing its targets for BEE. We need to ask if we are making significant
headway and what are the challenges that stand in the way of the empowerment of
the previously marginalised groups in the province," said Molewa.
On land reform Molewa said the provincial government has institutionalised
an approach through which matter of land reform will be handled in a
transparent, orderly and well-coordinated manner.
She said a structure led by MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and
Environment, which comprises of the Departments of Public Works, Developmental
Local Government and Housing, Provincial Land Reform Office and Land Claims
Commissioner responsible for North West province and the Land Bank had been set
up.
"As a crucial stakeholder, Agri NW also serves in the technical level of
this structure to provide technical inputs in order that the province could
achieve the set target of land reform by 2014."
Molewa invited Agri NW to use all existing platforms to channel discussions
on trade issues. She said the province was in the process of resuscitating the
Agricultural Trade and Marketing Forum that was launched recently.
"This structure should be used as a feeder to the national forum where
co-ordinated approach is taken and resources are optimally utilised."
She said the provincial government would continue to engage Agri NW and
other social partners to address common challenges and assist government in
implementing a comprehensive development plan.
Enquiries:
Cornelius Monama (Spokesperson)
Tel: (018) 387 3456
Cell: 082 578 4063
Russel Mamabolo (Manager: Media relations)
Tel: (018) 387 3103
Cell: 082 900 6610
Issued by: North West Provincial Government
6 September 2006
