Welcome address by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs Lydia Johnson during the official welcoming ceremony of unemployed graduates at Cedara

Program Director
HOD, DR Sizwe Mkhize
Senior Managers
Newly recruited Assistant Extension Officers
Members of the media
All protocol observed

The Department of Agriculture Environmental Affairs and Rural Development is well positioned to respond to the call to action on jobs. Agriculture is the largest sector which employs a lot of people and makes a meaningful contribution into the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite this, the sector still battles with the challenge of scarce skills as the country often battles to find certain specialised skills. This could be largely due to the fact that many people still view Agriculture as a sector that cannot offer rewarding employment. They think that it entails unattractive dirty jobs and should therefore be left to uneducated people.

It is however so heartening to welcome young people into the employ of the Department again. I always say that young people are the future and in Zulu we say “Inkunzi isematholeni”. I am therefore very pleased to see so many young faces here at Cedara today. Not only are we getting new blood but we are also welcoming young professionals with expertise knowledge in Agriculture, particularly in crop and animal production.

The Department places a lot of value on the college graduates and has been absorbing them in its main stream of employment. We are now hiring them and further facilitate that they complete their NQF level 7 training which qualifies them for a degree. 

In view of this, Cedara College has aligned itself with other institutions such as Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and Fort Hare in order to offer our diplomats the opportunity to turn their diploma into a degree so as to realise their full potential within the job market. This is the third phase of our recruitment drive since we started last year. Our target is to recruit 800 unemployed graduates for the 2011/12 financial year.

What we have started as the Department is yielding positive outcomes in the implementation of Food Security programmes in our communities. Our aim is to have two extension officers per ward to work hand in hand with the people on their subsistence farming activities.

Let me once more take the pleasure to welcome you into the Department, we are indeed very fortunate to be joined by such a young and vibrant team. We now look forward to see you apply the theoretical knowledge you have acquired over the years. Our extension officers will also be of great assistance to you, so do not be afraid to talk to them if you need help.

I thank you

Province

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