As a province and a country we are honoured to host this very important 4th international schools milk conference in South Africa against the backdrop of the effects of poverty and the specific effect that it has on the most vulnerable component of society, namely our children. The purpose of this conference, as I understand it, is to deliberate on the contribution and effect of the provision of milk to our children in schools all over the world and its integral part in the food security programmes in various countries.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations acknowledges the contribution of different cultures to fight the effects of poverty through agriculture and argues that sincere international and intercultural dialogue is a precondition for progress against hunger and starvation.The Constitution of our country recognises food security as a fundamental human right.
South Africa as a country is largely self-sufficient in food; yet, some of our people are faced with hunger and malnutrition. There are also a number of South Africans who are vulnerable to food insecurity. Among these are women, children and the elderly. It is true that many people are still going hungry every day in South Africa and in the Western Cape. It is sad that this often occurs within walking distance from full granaries and packing sheds. Or, in other words, the food is available, but people do not have the money to buy food. Thus, a food security strategy that is based on two legs is followed. The first is to enable people to have the financial measures to buy food and the second is to help people to produce their own food within their limited means.
Within the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Programme, designed at National level, agriculture is seen as a major contributor to food security. The role of agriculture is defined as providing food for the insecure and to use farming as a means for growing food, which includes the production of milk. When we look at providing milk to children at school, it is also essential that we look at the bigger picture with regard to Dairy farming and milk production.
In South Africa we have six major milk producing regions, each with its own qualities, production potential and markets. You will find two of these regions in the Western Cape. These two regions produce 500 million litres per annum, which is 25% of the total of 2billion litres that is produced in South Africa.
Our approach is that we should do as much as we can to increase and improve milk production as it carries many advantages for the various interest groups.
In this regard I am a firm believer in the contribution of research and development. The Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape therefore runs a very intensive research program on animal production and dairy farming.
The production of milk on farms has developed into a highly scientific farming exercise that places huge demands on the skills of farmers. Not only must they have a thorough knowledge of the cow and its management, but they also have to use highly sophisticated technology in the milking process.
We have recently opened one of the most advanced milk portals in the world at Elsenburg. Elsenburg is the headquarters of the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape where we also do a lot of our research on animal and milk production.
We place a lot of emphasis on the research to develop the best systems to ensure the most cost effective production of milk in the winter rainfall regions of the Western Cape. It is also of utmost importance to the South African Government that we train and equip emerging farmers to produce milk on a sustainable and cost effective basis.
One of the main considerations for the expansion of the Elsenburg Milking Parlour was the need for a large enough dairy herd so that effective research could take place. In the past, although much research emanated from the Elsenburg dairy herd, the small cow numbers often required that trials be run over years before a scientifically defensible answer was obtained. The goal is now to expand our Elsenburg herd to a dairy herd of 250 cows in milk. This will allow us to run two to three trials per annum, compared to the previous situation of a single trial run over three to four years. We therefore very excited by the prospect of a larger research herd for the Western Cape, although I realise that this herd expansion could take years to achieve. Once these numbers are achieved, not only can research take place more effectively, but it will also be possible to provide emerging farmers with improved genetic stock for the development of their own herds.
Our Outeniqua herd from the experimental farm in the Southern Cape region of our Province hash reached its goal of 250 cows in milk a year or so ago. We have been able to donate superior milk cows to a school near George. A further 30 milk cows will be provided to a black empowerment project in the near future. I am therefore even more excited by the prospect of seeing an expanded dairy herd at Elsenburg, which can serve as a source of superior milk cows to emerging black farmers, who will be the milk producers of the future. The latter is of great importance in the further development of the milk in schools program. As a government we are involved in the ongoing process of establishing new farmers in our rural areas, who could contribute significantly to poverty alleviation and address the effects of poverty in their immediate surroundings. By establishing new farmers who could produce milk in the deep rural areas that could be utilised for this program, I believe we will be addressing some of the logistical problems that are encountered to our distribution chain.
It all forms part of our governments program to eradicate poverty through agriculture and to contribute towards food security.
We believe that the distribution of milk in schools is the most effective way of providing growing children with the essential nutrients. Cow's milk contains, on average, 3.4% protein, 3.6% fat, and 4.6% lactose, and supplies 66 kcal of energy per 100 grams. Vitamins D and K are essential for bone health. Iodine is a mineral essential for thyroid function. Vitamin B12 and riboflavin are necessary for cardiovascular health and energy production. Biotin and pantothenic acid are B vitamins important for energy production. Vitamin A is critical for immune function. Potassium and magnesium are for cardiovascular health. Selenium is a cancer-preventive trace mineral. Thiamine is a B-vitamin important for cognitive function, especially memory
Chairperson we are gathered here because we are all serious about the well being of our children and we want to look at the challenges that are facing this specific program. It is clear that we all realise that we need each other and that we can learn from each other's experiences.
As South Africans we need to tap into your wealth of experience as some of your programs have been running for many years. Some with lesser and some with more support and even some with resistance to the program.
In your deliberations you will be looking at critical issues such as the necessity for a balanced diet in the physical, mental and intellectual development of children and the nutritional value of milk in these processes.
The Department of Agriculture is very conscious of all aspects of food safety and therefore we are glad to see that you are spending considerable time in addressing the issue of standards and quality in the provision of milk to our children.
The importance of the role of both Government and the industry should be understood clearly and therefore your deliberations should be honest and open in an effort to maximise the benefit of the partnership.
In his State of the Nation address, in February this year, President Mbeki placed the emphasis on the new season of hope that lies beckoning for us to enter when he said: (and I quote) "We have known that it would take considerable time before we could say we have eradicated the legacy of the past. What has been achieved since Nelson Mandela delivered his first State of the Nation Address, and what we can do, given the larger resources that have since been generated, has surely given hope to the masses of our people" (Close quote).
He then went on to introduce to us as a nation, this season of hope. His words contained a host of challenges that needs to be unlocked, to expose the seeds of opportunity and hope that would impact meaningful in the lives of those who are still deprived. I believe that this project can contribute greatly to that process. I trust that you will have a wonderful and enriching experience, both in your deliberations and in your stay in South Africa.
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 4930
Fax: 021 483 3890
Email: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
