The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries General Bheki Cele, together with the MEC of Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr Themba Mthembu will visit the first 100% black-owned ,managed and operated strawberry farm under the theme “Together we move South Africa forward: Our Future – Make it work.” Cappeny Estates is farming strawberries of the highest quality by employing breakthrough technology in the field of hydroponic production methods. The farm started production in 2013; on a 17ha farm with 6.5ha under production.
Cappeny Estates is Kwa-Zulu Natal’s newest and arguably-it’s most popular strawberry farm. Located on the north coast of the province the farm also offers direct selling of fresh and frozen strawberries to retailers and the public. It is 100% export certified and compliant with the Global and South African Good Agricultural Practice (GAP). Cappeny Estates is a member of the international society of Horticultural Science as well as South African Strawberry Growers Association.
The purpose of the visit is to showcase the work of young farmers in line with the National Youth Policy 2020; the department has developed the Young Producers and Entrepreneurs Strategy (YPES). The strategy aims to support the establishment of youth owned and/or managed enterprises. Through the strategy the department is supporting 261 unemployed youth through various programmes. Twenty five young people are placed with the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) as Export Technologists to increase our capacity as a country for export readiness.
Details of the event:
Venue: D176 off Esenembe Road Compensation Ballito
Date: Monday, 17 July 2017
Time: 10h00
For RSVP please contact Rony Moremi on 073 347 0391 or RincertM@daff.gov.za
For further information please contact:
Mrs. Nonkululeko Phokane
Spokesperson for the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Cell: 083 645 6252
E-mail: NonkululekoM@daff.gov.za
