As minister of Agriculture in the Western Cape it gives me great pleasure to welcome you here in our midst. This evening is indeed a joyous occasion, as we believe it marks the cementing of a project- agreement that was signed with NUFFIC in the beginning of this year, following our very successful visit to the Netherlands during the latter part of last year.
Agriculture in South Africa is undergoing a major transformation particularly in bringing to the centre stage, the involvement of the majority of black farmers into commercial agricultural production. The success of this transformation lies to a large extent with a strong extension service delivery system in the country. This project is to improve the capacity of the Cape Institute of Agricultural Training to contribute to extension delivery services to emerging farmers in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. This project will strengthen CIAT, Elsenburg and partner institutions through the development of a provincial policy on extension, development of the capacity of CIAT to train and produce extension agents, and assist in the transformation of CIAT to be responsive to the needs of emerging farmers. This project will address and assist to eliminate the following weaknesses in CIAT's service delivery capacity: Shortage of teaching staff, especially in certain fields such as Extension, Equestrian studies, Rural development, Rural Sociology, Limited subject offerings, and Lack of funding to expand on training offered to extension agents and farmers. These extension agents will in turn work with and offer services to emerging black farmers in these provinces.
The program will run up to 31 May 2008 with funding of 1,8 million Euro's, and with technical and training assistance of the University of Wageningen that has already established a desk at Elsenburg.
The pilot project will be based at The Cape Institute of Agricultural Training, Elsenburg and will be implemented in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape provinces. The specific objectives of this project include building of CIAT organisational and staff capacity in order for CIAT to effectively deliver input to provincial extension policy development, and deliver education and training on agricultural extension responsive to the needs of the developing agricultural sector in general and the emerging farmers in particular. The development of the extension manual, training of technical, management and support staff and support for restructuring are essential activities.
It is against this background that I say that it is a joyous occasion for us as a Department, because we are set to equip new farmers with the necessary skills in order to become successful commercial farmers who can take up their rightful place in the economy of our province. Your involvement also serves as an indication that we are on the right track with our existing programmes and that we can build on the foundation that was laid over the past two years in particular.
We value your involvement in the broader sense in that we also need committed people to be our partners in pushing back the frontiers of poverty and thus improving the quality of life of those who were deprived through apartheid, for so many years.
As much as it is our own challenge, we know that you are also committed in assisting us to ensure that agriculture can contribute to economic stability, development and growth, for the benefit of all, as the backbone of a thriving rural and provincial economy and to support us in our endeavor to foster reconciliation, equitable transformation and stability, which is the mainstream of a vibrant civil society and contributes to a safe and secure life to the people of our Province.
I trust that you will have a pleasant stay in the Western Cape and that your visit will be beneficial to all the parties concerned. Please also take time out to enjoy what we have to offer in the form of the products of our vineyards, our scenery and our hospitality.
Enquiries:
Alie van JaarsveldSpokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Tel: (021) 483 4930
Fax: (021) 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
E-mail: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
