This development of the Philippi Fruit and Vegetable Market is funded by the City of Cape Town and the Provincial Administration of the Western Cape at a total cost of R34 million.
I believe that the initial input from the private sector, including several BEE companies, is collectively in the region of R8 million plus for packing, processing, cold storage and ripening equipment.
We decided to develop here because it ties in with the Metropolitan Spatial Development Framework, as it is strategically located in terms of air, road and rail links. It also has a ready supply of local labour.
The planning design and buildings comply with international food safety standards, which are becoming more and more relevant every day, if we want to be player in the international marketplace. It is much more than just a fresh produce market as it boasts some of the most modern on-site processing facilities, thus creating a unique value-adding food production chain, which is the answer to the creation of jobs for people from this area.
Today we are officially opening this complex and we have to make sure that this market serves the purpose for which it was planned. As was indicated originally the market is supposed to create the "suction force" for the establishment of more than 2 500 emerging farmers and the development of more than 5 000 hectares of farmland over a five-year period in the Philippi and Cape Flats area.
For us in the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape the challenge will lie in the empowerment of the people in this area through urban Agricultural projects. We believe that we can fight poverty in this home for all, through well-planned food security projects. The prerequisite for food security projects to succeed in the urban areas, is a much more coordinated process by the same role players that were involved in the development of this market. I want to make use of this platform today to extend an invitation to both the private sector and local government to engage with us on all projects related to food gardens and food security, in order for us to tackle this challenge in a well coordinated and structured manner.
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 need to be followed. The first is to enable people to have the financial measures to buy food and the second is to help people to produce food within their limited means.
Within in 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. Our figures indicate that for example, the number of persons (households) that received food parcels in 2003 were estimated at 20 000 beneficiaries, and the Department estimated that about 15% of thIs group could still become clients of Agriculture, through mainly food garden initiatives.
The mandate of the Farmer Support and Development programme of the Department of Agriculture in this Province includes: Food Security, Farmer Settlement, Farmer Support Services and Farm Worker Development. The sub-programme Food Security coordinates and implements various food production projects as highlighted and adopted by the Integrated Food Security Strategy of South Africa. It also provides information and facilitates training of community garden and animal production beneficiaries.
Within our provincial budget funds have been allocated for community gardens within the urban context. What must be stressed is the greater need for partnerships between the Department and NGO's for the successful implementation of food security projects. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Rotary Club and the Department to roll out various food production projects in 2006/2007.
The challenge is to reduce the number of food insecure households by half by 2015, by increasing domestic production, improving food safety, sustaining safety nets and emergency food management.
We have the means in this province to address food security on various levels. Where there is water and land available my department can assist and support food gardens not only for subsistence farming but also for communities and for markets
It is further said that in many cases people have land but poverty and food insecurity is still high. ASGISA has termed this challenge "dead assets in the hands of the poor". We need to activate these assets and make them work for the people. The National Minister Ms Lulu Xingwana, requested us to use November as the month to go back to the fields to plough.
On Saturday at a meeting with the National Minister we agreed on the "Ilima / Letsema" campaign. We will, through this campaign, build on and leverage programmes already existing in the provinces - programmes that offer support to small scale farming in the form of fencing, seeds, fertilizers, extension support, and irrigation as an example. We will have Ilima/Letsema in all Provinces during November. We have adopted the idea the idea of Siyagijima, which means let us run, or differently put; let's hurry up. We cannot allow LANDTO LIE FALLOW! We need to utilise the land and unleash this productive asset to feed our families and communities, create employment and contribute towards economic growth and development of local and rural economies.
We need to involve our young people who are jobless to roll up their sleeves and go to the fields. We want to say to them agriculture is Cool.
Through this Market we want to cater for the needs of this sector and contract farming will play an important role - from supplying the necessary seed, fertilisers and mentoring up to the final collection and marketing of the produce.
My department is proud to be associated with the Philippi Market as we are increasingly settling and supporting emerging farmers and this market will create the necessary tool and place for these farmers to sell and promote their produce. The market will create the ideal opportunity to enter the mainstream activities of agriculture.
Commercial farmers, especially those wishing to incorporate empowerment in their production units, will be encouraged to send produce to the Philippi Market and to interact directly with the various value adding and trading groups at the market.
However it is among emerging farmers, where significant job creation opportunities will be developed through the Philippi Market Supply Base project, which is a five-year programme, funded by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.
One of the unique qualities of the market is its processing, including sourcing, sorting and pre-preparation facilities, which could handle large portions of the processing cycle and contract for outside food processors. The Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape is making R4 million available to assist in this venture as part of the implementation of Agri BEE.
This market has the potential to become a leading distribution centre of agricultural produce in the Cape Peninsula and we trust that it will be the hub where produce is received in bulk, without neglecting the smaller producers in any way.
On behalf of the Department of Agriculture and the Government of the Western Cape I want to wish you every success with this venture. I trust that it will grow from strength to strength, thereby helping us to empower our people economically and to create a better life for all in the home for all in the Western Cape.
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 4930
Fax: 021 483 3890
Email: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
