Programme Director, the MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cyril Xaba, also representing the office of the Premier, Mr Senzo Mchunu, the District Mayor of Amajuba Municipality, the Local Mayor of Emadlangeni Municipality, Members of the Provincial Legislature, Councillors, our traditional leaders, the political leadership in the province, our farmers, our communities, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Head of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in KZN, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
This is a follow-up visit here in Newcastle. On 12 December last year, the Deputy Minister, General Bheki Cele and I were here, there were many issues that were raised by the community in general and the farming community in particular. Owing to the dependency of the majority of people from the rural areas of the Amajuba District on agriculture, the hosting of an imbizo by DAFF in their area brought many expectations in terms of agricultural support and food security strategies.
The rationale for the visit to Utrecht is driven by a desire to cover the rest of the communities in the Amajuba District, which did not get the opportunity during the first visit. This will give the DAFF leadership an opportunity to make a follow-up on issues that were raised in the previous visit. The purpose is to find tangible solutions to the impact of food insecurity in the country.
This intervention is one of the exercises that are intended to lay a foundation for a broader and more intense implementation as defined in the approved Food and Nutrition Security Policy. The department has been fortunate to have the Agricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP) approved by Cabinet last month and this policy which is aligned to the New Growth Path (NGP), National Development Plan (NDP) and Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), will help us to achieve Outcome 4— which talks of decent employment through inclusive growth and Outcome 7 —which looks into comprehensive rural development and food security.
The following are some of the issues that were raised by community members during the first imbizo:
1. Relating to agriculture:
- Unavailability of land to start agricultural projects by the youth, e.g. vegetable and crop production and shortage of grazing land for livestock
- Shortage of water for vegetable gardens
- Ploughing late because of delayed services by the Department of Agriculture to members of the community of Newcastle and the surrounding areas
- Stock theft
- Lack of farming equipment
- Unavailability of DAFF (extension officers) to the community.
2. General issues:
- Training on different skills
- Assisting people who are living with disabilities in the agricultural sector
- Introduction of inland fish farming (aquaculture)
- Training on fish farming
- Shortage of seedlings
- Registration of cooperatives.
Programme Director, we are happy to say since the last visit by DAFF, 204 households have been supported with garden tools, vegetable seedlings and fruit trees. The Cabinet of South Africa has declared this week an Imbizo Focus Week with the aim of listening to you, the people of this fine nation. Together we move South Africa Forward, because we are a nation at work.
I thank you.
