Limpopo Agriculture has provisionally adopted the CAADP plan. This was endorsed by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture led by MEC Jacob Marule at a CAADP Provincial Seminar held from 19 to 20 March 2013. Already, Limpopo is at the forefront of compliance as some of its agricultural and rural development programmes comply with four CAADP pillars.
This was the second province targeted for consultations after the successful consultation forum in North West province. Limpopo was strategically considered for consultations as agriculture forms the bedrock of economic activity in the province and it became clear by the number of farmers, cooperatives and business and government personnel in attendance. A drive to push partnership and understanding between government, business and farmers was strongly emphasised; self-organised agriculture.
Out of the four plenary sessions, items of concern for stakeholders were in the following areas (a) re-evaluation of land prices; as some were allegedly inflated (b) inadequate communal farm support (c) resolving infrastructural challenges and (d) addressing the potential of horticulture. These outcomes necessitated a set-up of a CAADP provincial task team to speedily begin in resolving these challenges.
The Limpopo CAADP Task Team will be inclusive of all stakeholders comprising members from government, business, academia, farmers and cooperatives. Among the tasks expected of the Task Team is to facilitate the provincial CAADP process that “will eventually culminate in the signing of the CAADP compact at national level.” A detailed report on the outcomes of the consultation will be communicated in due course.
For media enquiries please contact:
Steve Galane, Acting Chief Director: Stakeholder Relations and Communications
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Tel: 012 319 7960
Cell: 083 635 7346
E-mail: SteveGAL@daff.gov.za
