In the Western Cape this process continues today with even greater effort - and much has been achieved through partnerships. We have, in partnership, already settled more than 4000 beneficiaries of agricultural land reform in the province - more than 3500 in the last two years alone. We aim to see the number of farmers from these communities double within the next six years.
Every person and organisation involved in agriculture in the Western Cape has reason to be proud of what our province has achieved since 1994. By every measure there has been improvement, growth, development and the creation of a positive new approach that forms the basis for long-term success in the agricultural sector. It is this approach - of partnership - that is directly responsible for the gains that we have made over the last ten years.
We have seen steady growth in primary agriculture in the Western Cape since 1994. Perhaps even more importantly, we have seen the number of permanent jobs in Western Cape agriculture rise by 32 000 between 1996 and 2001 - thereby raising the quality of life in many of our rural communities.
Our NNP/ANC Government believes that agriculture is one of the most important growth sectors of the Western Cape economy - holding the key to real job creation across the province. We know though, that Government alone can never create growth and empowerment. Western Cape agriculture depends largely on all of its different social partners - government at all levels, organised agriculture, and organised labour. This golden thread of partnership has been the basis of our Government's approach since the NNP/ANC coalition took office two years ago.
The partnership between our Government and organised agriculture has been one marked by great success. The Western Cape is still the only province in South Africa with a Code of Conduct that has been adopted by the majority of commercial farmers. The coordination between Agri-Western Cape, representing mainly established farmers, and NAFU, Ubuntu, and WEKUFU, representing mainly emerging farmers, with our Department of Agriculture, has added great value to agricultural growth. It has also helped to better coordinate research, land reform and development in the industry - and was boosted even further by the creation, two years ago, of a single provincial Department focusing exclusively on agriculture.
Our partnership with our 200 000 Western Cape farm workers represents one of the most important policy shifts that the Western Cape has seen since 1994. We have realigned the focus of our Department to also meet the needs of emerging farmers and farm workers. It is for this reason that a new position was created within the Department - the Manager of Farm Workers Affairs, to engage with farm workers and to help build a more unified and organised structure to represent them and their interests. The result is that a provincial congress will be held in May this year. We have also invested significantly in the creation of new training centres like the one we opened in George last November. These centres will assist farm workers and poorer farmers to develop their business and vocational skills.
The improved relationship between the Western Cape Government and the National Government has also yielded important results - like the nearly R16 million that was earmarked for drought relief in February and March, and the R11,7 million for flood relief in the Ashton and Montague area. Land reform, research support and better coordination have been the hallmarks of our cooperative governance and partnership approach. This has even been extended to other provincial governments - with partnerships signed between the Western Cape, Northern and Eastern Cape on animal disease control and joint research.
Even on the international front the last two years have seen partnerships signed like those with Bavaria, Florida, Burgundy and the Netherlands that have unlocked concrete benefits like research exchanges, training and new markets for new and established farmers in the Western Cape.
Our Government knows that farmers and the agricultural sector continue to face very real challenges - ranging from the value of the Rand, to harsh weather patterns and the pressing need for even greater development in the industry. We are very proud of what has already been achieved over the last ten years, and our NNP/ANC Government will continue to work together will all our social partners in agriculture to find solutions to the challenges of the next decade.
Enquiries: Riaan AucampCell: 083 778 9923
