Program director
Members of Myeki Landcare project
Amakhosi present
Ladies and gentlemen
All protocol observed
Good afternoon
I’m more than elated to be in the midst of courageous and diligent women who are playing a pivotal role in safeguarding our environment. What a great way to finish my day! Just this morning, I was at Phaphasi/Mpanzakazi on the other side of Hlabisa where I was talking on issues of agriculture, food production and poverty alleviation.
Now I’ll be talking on issues of environmental management and how it benefits agricultural activities. I always say that, the environment doesn’t need us, but we need the environment. The same environment we have today, we have it because the generations before us, took good care of it. So! it is also fitting for us to do the same, for the sake of future generations to come. The department is the custodian of environment in this province and thus has an obligation to oversee compliance to regulations, conservation laws in order to ensure sound environmental management.
Section 24 (b) of our constitution says that “All South Africans have a constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well being, and to have the environment protected for the benefit of the present and future generations”
Environmental issues are so high on the agenda not only locally but internationally as well. They continuously form part of our daily discourse hence the need to heighten awareness that prompts action amongst the people of the world be it in the first world or third world countries. It is also significant to note that environmental disasters often accredited to climate change know no boundaries. That is why I am always excited by environmental initiatives like the Myeki landcare project which we are here to launch today.
The main aim of the project is to resuscitate the communal grazing area, which will benefit agriculture more especially the livestock sector. This will be achieved through alien weed control and management. The total area to be cleared is equivalent to 372 hectares of land. We will further install 4 km fencing of the boundary. The project will be implemented over the period of 3 years. This project will have a major economic boost for the people of this area through job creation. It will employ 80 people and about 60% of the employed will be women and 20% will be youth.
Again the project will present empowerment opportunities for the locals because it will not only end with employment but there will be a skills transfer programme. Project beneficiaries will be trained on life skills and project based training such as:
- Project Management
- Alien weed control and management
- First Aid
- Fencing
This project will benefit the environment by clearing invasive alien plants and the people by creating jobs and giving them exposure to skills that they did not have before.
Invasive alien plants are plants that have been brought to South Africa from other countries, for their beauty, economic value or ecological purpose. Some are brought in unintentionally and are brought here without their natural enemies, and without their natural enemies, these plants are able to reproduce prolifically.
Let me cite a few realistic examples:
- When we lose grazing lands for livestock – We will have to use more supplementary feed for the livestock and thus high costs in livestock farming, increased poverty.
- When cattle had eaten the harmful alien plants, the meat quality is compromised, thus we get less returns from selling such meat.
- Poisoning of livestock – we will have to purchase medicine for the care of the livestock and thus livestock farming costs going up, some of the livestock may die after eating the poisonous alien plants.
- When we lose the potentially productive agricultural land and conservation land - there will be a reduction in the land value
- When there is less water – there will be reduction to agricultural yields, resulting in high food prices, resulting in increased poverty.
All of these have a negative impact on both our social and economic sectors. This is why then the department initiated the Invasive Alien Species Programme because there a lot of alien invasion in our communities. I can assure you though that as the department we will not relent until we free our land and eradicate all of these alien plants.
In conclusion I wish the project a very good success and we applaud the efforts of all those who are involved. Many people will benefit from your sterling work. Please encourage more people and other communities to follow suit and take care of their environment.
I thank you.
