Thank you programme director
MEC of Agriculture and other the Executive Council Members present here
Executive Mayor and Mayors
Councilors and other community leaders
The Head of Department (HoD) of the Department of Agriculture and other government officials
Representatives of Transvaal Agricultural Union (Tau SA), Agri-Limpopo, National African Farmers Union (NAFU), Nkuzi and all other structures represented here
The leadership of Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development
Traditional leaders
Good morning!
It is with great pleasure to be afforded the opportunity to be part of this forum. This conference is taking place just four days after the adjournment of the historic 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, which was hosted by the Africa continent, in particular our country. We would like to send our humble message of appreciation to the people of Limpopo for being the good hosts to the visitors and the tournament in general.
The warm reception that we afforded to soccer spectators and other visitors is matchless and we must be proud of ourselves. Our special message of appreciation is due to all people who volunteered their services during the tournament, working extra hours in a cold weather condition to ensure that everything goes according to schedule. Their determination will forever remind us that the province and the country still have true patriots we can rely on.
Programme director,
On several occasions, we have reiterated the importance of agriculture in our daily lives. We have declared our province the home of farming and the food basket of the country and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. We have also disclosed our concern about the youth not being interested in farming and other agricultural research programmes. In the event we are not able to produce young farmers then we will not be able to sustain the production of agricultural produce and this may negatively impact on the food security.
It is public knowledge that rural development is part of the key priority areas of our administration and this platform serves as another tool that substantiates our determination in this regard. Our rural development approach is based on our key economic driving factors, which is agriculture, tourism and mining. We are also inventing green economy as another strategy in our rural development plan.
We have identified farming as the most immediately available tool employable in the development of rural places. We must use farming to create job opportunities for our people and build a firm economy which derives strength from agricultural products. Agriculture must be used to fight poverty and unemployment amongst our people.
Programme director,
The fact that we are converging in this meeting under the theme: “Youth Working together to build a United Country for all” is another sign of commitment from the young brigades of our province towards making a contribution to the course of improving the living standard of our people and unifying all behind one vision of caring.
We have a mammoth task of improving the living conditions of our people in the rural areas and townships. We have made a commitment to the people of Limpopo that we will broaden the limits of the economic muscles of the province to be inclusive as far as it is possible. We have invented an economic blue print that seeks to bring our people closer to the economic activities in the province. We have viable programmes in agriculture designed to assist young people to be entrepreneurs of record with the capacity to create job opportunities for others.
Young people must form cooperatives and apply for the available government grants. It is our solid determination to continue introducing new farmers and further assisting them to prosper. We have abundance of land which is under the control of traditional leaders. During the interaction with our traditional leaders at the opening of the Provincial House of traditional leaders, we made a passionate plea that the land which is under their respective jurisdictions must be converted into a sustainable commercial agricultural land.
And some of the traditional leaders have already commenced farming in their areas further confirming our attitude and commitment to farming.
Programme director,
We are also urging young people to enroll in agricultural programmes at schools and at the tertiary level education institutions. We must produce many agricultural scientists here in the province and recruit more into agriculture. We are presently funding some of the students who have registered in specialist farming disciplines with the sole aim of boosting our agricultural production. The skills and training that we are investing in this area must be retained here in Limpopo.
We should not be a training ground for other provinces or countries. We are also urging young women to come to the fore and participate in agriculture. Farming is not for men only. Women must seize the opportunities in farming and join in securing food security for the people. Farming is a challenging business and we know that women also possess the capacity to confront challenging assignments. We already have successful female farmers here in Limpopo, who continues to dominate the national awards platforms. And it is on this note that we are urging young women to follow in their footprints.
Programme director,
Farm workers must be treated humanely and with outmost respect. No farm worker must be under paid regardless of their citizenship. No farm worker must be over worked without being remunerated for that. No farm worker must be forced or be allowed to work without necessary protective attire. Farm workers and their families who reside on the farm premises must be permitted to live freely like other households.
Children of farm workers must be allowed to go to school for they hold the key to the future prosperity of their families. It is fundamental that the Limpopo Agricultural Youth Forum must ensure that farm workers are protected and enjoy their working environment. It is always important to recollect that whilst it might be in the interest of business to maximise profit that should not be done at the expense of the farm workers. We are strongly raising this point because farm workers represent the success of farming.
As young farmers, you must grow in this business knowing the chief advocates of your success, which are the farm workers. You must also assist farm workers to become farm owners by developing their skills and building their confidence in a manner that prepares them for future ownership of their own farms. We should be motivated by our history of struggle in our respective endeavors and develop desire to assist others.
We are wishing you a successful meeting and also congratulate the winners in the Young Farmers Awards.
Working together, we can do more!
Thank you!
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government
