Gerrit van Rensburg Wishes Western Cape Farmers Well with Harvest | Western Cape Government

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Gerrit van Rensburg Wishes Western Cape Farmers Well with Harvest

18 November 2013

Minister Gerrit van Rensburg visited fruit farms in the Wolseley area on Friday, 15 November 2013 to wish Western Cape farmers and workers well with the current harvest season.

Van Rensburg said harvest time is the only opportunity for farms to generate income which must see them through for an entire year. This is a time for hard work. It is a time for farmers and farm workers to take hands and work together as a team.

Van Rensburg said challenges, such as the recent heavy rains, are unavoidable and part and parcel of the nature of farming. “My Department is there to support the farmers and farm workers of the Western Cape, and anybody with agricultural related problems can phone the dedicated helpline at 0860 142 142".

The latest figures released by Statistics SA indicates that job opportunities in the South African agricultural sector declined from 712 000 in the second quarter of 2013 to 706 000 in the third quarter. But in contrast to the national figures, employment opportunities in the agricultural sector in the Western Cape increased from 117 000 in the second quarter to 139 000 in the third quarter.

Western Cape agricultural job opportunities increased from 16.4% of total agricultural opportunities in South Africa to 19.7% of national agricultural job opportunities. This makes the Western Cape the province that created the most jobs in agriculture for the period under review.

Media Enquiries: 

Wouter Kriel
Tel: 021 483 4700
Cell: 079 694 3085
E-mail: wouter.kriel@westerncape.gov.za