The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Senzeni Zokwana and his Deputy, General Bheki Cele, yesterday met farmers’ unions for a “meet and greet” introductory session. The Minister and Deputy Minister met the African Farmers' Association of South Africa (AFASA), National African Farmers' Union (NAFU), Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU) and the Agri-Sector Unity Forum (ASUF).
The meetings are part of the Ministers’ introductory forums with leaders in the agricultural sector. Similar meetings will be held with stakeholders in the fishing and forestry sectors.
“The meeting was beneficial in terms of establishing links that will assist us to achieve the one million job target that the President outlined for us in the State of the Nation Address. We will be working together and will have further in depth meetings that will include plans on how best to work collaboratively, and more importantly, establishing a framework for constructive dialogue on the many critical challenges facing the broader agricultural sector,” said Minister Zokwana.
Minister Zokwana and Deputy Minister Cele outlined their expectations of the sector in terms of food security, growth, greater access and opportunity, especially for the youth, skills development and job creation, among other matters. The Ministers committed to dialogue and to working with agricultural unions to tackle the critical issues of competitiveness, transformation and resource management in the sector.
Today the Ministers are meeting CEOs of the public entities in the agricultural sector.
Enquiries:
Palesa Mokomele
Spokesperson of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Tel: 012 319 7876 (PTA)
Fax: 012 319 6681 (PTA)
Tel: 021 467 4502 (CPT)
Fax: 021 465 6550 (CPT)
Cell: 082 904 1908
E-mail: PalesaM@daff.gov.za
