16 October 2007
The Minister for Agriculture in the Western Cape, Cobus Dowry is at present
visiting Beaune in Burgundy (France) to give practical effect to the current
Co-operation Agreement between Burgundy and the Western Cape and to strengthen
the bilateral relations between these two regions and to attend the Diploma
ceremony of 10 winemakers who are completing a course in wine making in Beaune,
Burgundy.
A co-operation agreement was signed on 12 September 2002 between the Premier
of the Western Cape and the President of the regional council of Burgundy. This
agreement identified various areas of co-operation with a huge emphasis on
agriculture.
During November 2004, Minister Dowry led a top-level delegation to France in
an effort to strengthen the existing co-operative relations between Burgundy
and the Western Cape. This regional co-operation takes place against the
background of the strong bilateral relations between France and South Africa.
The Western Cape is benefiting from co-operation with this region especially in
the area of training, transfer of skills, quality standards in agriculture,
quality food products and adding value to basic agricultural products.
Burgundy is the most important wine region in France and one of the most
important in the world, especially with reference to quality wines. The region
is also renowned for its quality cheese production.
Is was agreed during discussions with various institutions in Burgundy that
in terms of the current co-operation agreement between Burgundy and the Western
Cape that the very successful program for training of farm workers in the wine
industry in Beaune, Burgundy will be continued.
The following projects are envisaged within the current co-operation
agreement with Burgundy. The aim of the visit is to give practical effect to
the current agreement and to give impetus to the implementation thereof:
* Training of farm workers in the wine industry. There is a common view to
expand this project in various ways. This will included amongst others to
enable the top 10 students of the last three years to go to Burgundy for two
months in 2005 for further training. This could also include people from
various agricultural sectors, not only viticulture.
* Burgundy indicated that they would provide a train for the trainer's
course for educators and managers in the agricultural field in co-operation
with the Department of Agriculture. This could include an exchange of
staff.
* Practical experience for Burgundy wine students on farms in the Western
Cape. It should be noted that all French wine students must do a practical
course overseas, which is co-ordinated and funded by the French government.
Burgundy however, indicated that they would like to have a separate running
project with the Western Cape. It is foreseen that a basic introductory course
in the South African wine industry could be presented at Elsenburg where the
students could work on wine farms in the Stellenbosch area.
* It was also agreed that a new training program for young cheese makers
from the Western Cape will start in 2005 in Burgundy - this will create new
opportunities for young professionals, in particular those from previously
disadvantaged communities. The course was completed in June 2005. The Western
Cape Department of Agriculture provide funding for this project to enable
cheese makers to attend this course annually.
* The flagship project between the two regions is a training project for
farm workers in the wine industry, which had been running successfully now for
six years. This agricultural component of this co-operative project was
reconfirmed in 2006, and different actions under this have been funded by the
French partners for another three-year period.
* Various parties in the agricultural sector (especially the wine industry)
in the Western Cape already participate in the implementation of the
agricultural component of the co-operation programme, with the Department of
Agriculture playing a pivotal role in this regard. The delegates representing
the Department of Agriculture, Western Cape will consist of Minister JJ Dowry
(MEC for Agriculture), Mr J Topley (Office Manager: Ministry of Agriculture)
and Mr MJ Paulse (Chief Director: Structured Agricultural Training). Mr Paulse
is also chairing the Steering Committee for Agriculture in the Western Cape
Burgundy Co-operation Programme. Different other Departments are now ready to
join this Programme.
* As part of the student exchange programme, another ten (10) French
students studying wine making and marketing, were hosted for 6 weeks by the
Department in February 2007. Students not only received theoretical and
practical training at the CIAT, but were also exposed to the broader wine
industry and South African cultural life.
* In June 2007, a French delegation, under the auspices of the Burgundy
Regional Council, visited the province to explore new fields of co-operation.
During the visit different departments, (including Environmental Affairs,
Sports and Culture, Agriculture, etc.) and other institutions (including Wesgro
and University of Stellenbosch) made presentations to the delegation and
explored potential fields and projects for co-operation.
During this visit, final preparation will also be made for the arrival in
November of:
* five (5) learners from the Western Cape participating in the sommelier
training programme at the Beaunne CFPPA
* ten (10) learners participating in the barrel management and
maintenance-training programme for cellar workers at the Beaunne CFPPA
* ten (10) learners participating in training in project management at the
Beaunne CFPPA, and
* planning of a tour by the rugby team of the Cape Institute for Agricultural
Training (CIAT) of France in 2008.
This visit will also coincide with the graduation of the group of 10 farm
workers currently undergoing in-service training in wine making and viticulture
in Burgundy from 3 September to 19 October 2007. Minister Dowry will attend the
Diploma ceremony.
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson: Western Cape Ministry of Agriculture
Tel: 021 483 4930
Cell: 084 604 6701
Fax: 021 483 3890
E-mail: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Western Cape Provincial Government
16 October 2007
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
