Focus on land reform in the Western Cape

The President, the Minister of Agriculture and Premier of the Western Cape, emphasized the importance of delivery. The Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape has taken up this challenge and will embark on a journey to make the Western Cape a home for all its people.

In die gees van "IKAPA ELIHLUMAYO" het die departement vir hom sekere meetbare doelwitte gestel, om binne die eerste 100 dae van die nuwe regering in die Wes-Kaap, reeds 'n verskil te maak om die lewensomstandighede van die mense van die Wes-Kaap, nie net in die korttermyn nie, maar ook volhoubaar oor die medium- en langtermyn te verbeter. Ek lig graag vir u 'n paar van hierdie doelwitte uit.

Exporting Karoo Lamb

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) South Africa is allowed to export lamb meat to Europe from areas free from foot and mouth disease (including the Karoo).

However, up until now the EU did not accept bone-in meat as a result of their fear of this disease. The Western Cape Department of Agriculture submitted a presentation to the National Department of Agriculture to enable them to appeal against the decision at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the EU that they were wrong in banning from South Africa.

The Karoo was identified as a locality from where bone-in lambs meat will be exported on trial period. We have already registered a couple of farms and strict conditions have been set for the management of the farms. The farms are mainly in the Beaufort-Wes/Prince Albert area. Sheep will be slaughtered at the new Swellendam export abattoir.

Land reform

Land reform forms a crucial part of the Department's priorities. The Land Reform sub-programme, the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme as well as the Transformation Act of Certain Act 9 Coloured Rural Reserves will very much dictate the development agenda of this programme. In addition, the Urban Renewal Strategy and the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme will also demand budgetary allocations, and therefore services. The support to build strong farmers' organisations at district level must be expanded to enhance service delivery and improve the overall performance of the programme. Agricultural development is the overall priority.

The Farmer Support and Development Programme encompasses the broad development agenda of the Department of Agriculture, meaning that the design and implementation are predominantly for supporting black farmers in the Western Cape Province but does not exclude the commercial sector.

This support to beneficiaries ranges from land reform to institutional capacity building. Given that the predominant need for the development of an equitable and diverse agricultural sector has been identified, 80% of the budget will be utilised to build the capacity of the historically disadvantaged communities and individuals. The commercial sector employs more than 200 000 people and therefore 20% of budget will be allocated to support this sector.

Ten slotte wil ek namens die Wes-Kaap die minister bedank vir die rol wat sy en haar departement speel om 'n klimaat te skep waarin Landbou in Suid-Afrika kan gedy. Ek wil weereens die minister verseker dat die Wes-Kaapse Departement van Landbou ten volle ingekoop het in die strategiese plan vir Landbou in Suid-Afrika. Elke amptenaar van die Departement in die Wes-Kaap werk daagliks met toewyding en ywer aan die kontrak om armoede te verlig en 'n tuiste te skep vir al die mense.