Minister Senzeni Zokwana, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Deputy Minister, General Bheki Cele, are currently locked in a meeting with eight MECs and heads of departments who are responsible for agriculture and food security in South Africa. The meeting, which will be held once a quarter, is the first one since Minister Zokwana took leadership of the department.
The MECs are from all provinces besides the North West.
Among discussion areas, the meeting will provide answers and discuss what the sector should do to create a million jobs by 2030 as articulated by the President in the State of the Nation address. Another area of discussion will look at how programmes aimed at developing smallholder farmers will be supported to enhance production.
MECs will have an opportunity to inform their counterparts on the status of agricultural initiatives in their provinces and, specifically, how they plan to grow employment and create markets for producers, among other things.
The meeting will also specifically look at the role of youth and women, and programmes that will be aimed attracting those who are not involved in the sector as a mechanism to tackle unemployment. Today's meeting comes ahead of the department's budget vote address tomorrow at the National Assembly.
Minister Zokwana says "we need to address the gender balance in agriculture and find ways in which to attract more young people to participate in the sector. Tomorrow's budget vote speech will give the nation a plan on what direction we are going to take to achieve some of these goals.
Our biggest challenge, at this point, is how to bring the services of the department closer to producers and how to create employment, with specific focus on youth. Moreover, in dealing with food security, we need to understand where provinces are in terms of the Fetsa Tlala food production initiative, mechanisation and many other issues. This is the beginning of what will be a collaborative effort among provinces, ourselves and the sector."
The budget vote will be at 16h35 at the National Assembly in the Old Assembly Chambers tomorrow in Cape Town.
Enquiries:
Palesa Mokomele
Spokesperson of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Cell: 082 904 1908
Tel: 012 319 7876 (PTA) or 021 467 4502 (CPT)
Fax: 012 319 6681 (PTA) or 021 465 6550 (CPT)
E-mail: PalesaM@daff.gov.za
