The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development has pledged to avail more funds to support agricultural youth initiatives in the province. The department will put a substantial increase on its budget for youth projects.
This was announced during a provincial Youth Summit on Sustainable Agricultural Development, convened at Cedara, in Petermaritzburg today, 28 June 2011. The summit is an annual feature whichis used by the department to mark the June Youth Month by bringing togetheractivists who are actively taking today’s struggle against unemployment and poverty forward.
Theme “Advancing Young Farmers through Agricultural farming for sustainable job creation”
The objective of the summit is to involve the youth in agri-business to promote economic development, create sustainable income generating projects and sound environmental management projects. The summit interrogated numerous critical aspects of youth development in the agricultural sector which encompassed the following topics.
- financial and technical support from the department
- sustainable measures to all youth projects
- access to markets
- sustainable environmental management
Hundreds of youth representatives and young successful farmers from all eleven districts delved into these issues and came up with input to chart the way forward. Amongst other things the summit agreed on the following:
- budget review for youth projects
- improved communication with youth structures
- facilitation of access to markets
MEC Johnson praised the youth for displaying commitment towards owning processes of their own development.
“We want to support you so that your efforts may begin to translate into tangible benefits in food security programmes and the economic development of our province. We want to see you become fully fledged commercial farmers who are running successful businesses.” said Johnson
She added that the department’s contribution is not only limited to giving financial support but is also geared more towards training, capacity building in terms of skills development and giving information in order for the youth to have the knowhow of running successful businesses. “All the contributions made here today will be consolidated into a programme of action for advancing youth in this province.” said Jonson.
The Head of the Department, Dr Sizwe Mkhize, assured young people of a 100% financial support if they come up with sound sustainable environmental and agricultural projects. He said that the Department is always ready to support good initiatives driven by young people and that they should all seize such opportunities.
The summit ended with a unanimous consensus on the intensification of support towards youth projects.
For all your queries contact:
Ncumisa Mafunda
Tel: 033 343 8063
Cell: 079 515 7187
