One of our most challenging priorities as a nation is our fight against poverty and starvation. It is a Common fact that Agriculture plays a vital role in this fight. In order to succeed we have to take a holistic look at the problems associated with increasing levels of poverty, global inequality, peace, Land distribution, security and stability, health, and capacity building. We need to take cognisance, and highlight the need to integrate the three pillars of sustainable development namely (1) economic, (2) social and (3) environmental.
I believe that we need to ask ourselves, what is it that we really want to achieve. To my mind some of the most important objective should be to:
- Promote and develop excellence in Agriculture amongst our youth and to create an awareness of the need to improve agricultural activities in order to ensure food security and economic stability of the country
- Exchange information on best practices in youth led community development initiatives
- Connect young community leaders across the country to enhance their leadership, entrepreneurship and community development skills
- Build a foundation for a knowledgeable and inclusive national network of young leaders
- Promote economic equity for youth and increase awareness about the negative impacts of globalisation on youth, their families and their communities, and the environment and.
- Advocate for our youth's equal participation and representation in decision-making in the market place
In the Western Cape Department of Agriculture we are very clear that it is part of our role to see to the sustainable development of youth in Agriculture, as the main engine of economic growth in rural communities, through an efficient and sustainable service, which will enhance the environment and improve the quality of life of our families and youth.
In order to obtain these goals we want you to become full partners through programmes that will empower you at an early age; to look at agriculture as the very essence of our subsistence and to have a full knowledge of the importance of the protection of our resources through Land Care, environmental protection programmes and best practises in Agriculture.
We believe there is a great need to expose you to programmes and partnerships that support International, Continental and Regional exchanges that bring together Agriculture and Land Affairs best practices and to share ideas, information, knowledge and expertise to support practical actions.
Through Economic and Business Development Programs we want to assists in providing you as young people the access to opportunities in Agriculture and Land Affairs by focusing on building viable market economies and creating jobs.
We want to promote the equitable deployment of knowledge and communications resources for civic empowerment, and promote the broader society to be well informed about Agriculture and Land Affairs through well planned information programmes, such as the programmes that is run by our own Cape Institute for Agricultural Training at Elsenburg.
As a Department we believe that Human capital development remains one of the main vehicles for transforming the Department and agricultural sector in general. In this regard we are maintaining close links and we are always forming partnerships to ensure integration of the various skills development initiatives provincially and nationally that is of vital importance to all of us. It is however equally important that we ensure a strong, competent and skilled departmental workforce, capable of dealing with new and diverse agricultural and related challenges. It is for this reason that the development of employees always receives the necessary attention and support.
Human Capital Development definitely forms the basis for growth of a sector like Agriculture. Improved accessibility and transfer of skills in education and training through structured training programmes are central to the Department's contribution to skills development, especially in areas of critical and scarce skills, in the Province and the sector.
You who are here today forms part of the Departments implementation of a range of initiatives that are primarily targeting the youth in the province. These initiatives form the core of the Departments' Human Capital Development Strategy that is implemented across the different Programmes within the Department.
The Question could be asked, what are we doing to put our objectives into practise? Allow me to give you some insight.
The bulk of the budget allocated towards empowering the youth, is channelled through the Programme: Structured Agricultural Training. Almost all the students in Higher Education are between the ages 18 and 35 years and 90% of them are from the rural areas. The Sub programme: Further Education and Training through structured Learnership programmes, as well as specific short skills programmes, provides training to the youth and unemployed learners (18.2) between the ages of 18 - 35. The total budget allocation to this Programme for 2008/9 amounts to R35,527 million which will be spent on empowering the youth in mainly the rural areas. A total amount of R14,108 million from this budget is utilised for different initiatives ranging from pre-settlement training of land reform beneficiaries, mentorship training, marketing of career opportunities in agriculture, strengthening the Young Professionals Programme, to ABET-programmes and awarding study bursaries to youth from marginalised groups. Almost the entire budget is therefore allocated to activities in the interest of youth.
The aforementioned initiatives are furthermore augmented by the implementation of an extensive Internship programme of which you are part. This program offered you the opportunity to the gain practical experience in a real work environment.
The Departmental Human Capital Development Strategy for 2007 to 2012, the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquistion (JIPSA) supports skills development programmes and employment opportunities for young people. Human Capital Development as the iKAPA GDS pillar, addresses the scarce and critical skills of the Province, as well as focuses on reducing the 23% unemployment rate, which is made up of 50% youth.
As a Department we have listed the Internship Programme as being one of the key deliverables to transform agriculture through training.
Already over 200 Interns have been placed with the Department during the past 2 years. As it is preparations are underway for the next intake of 100 more interns. You know that the main focus of the Internship Programme has been to provide you as unemployed youth, women and people with disabilities with a meaningful work experience, giving you exposure to the Agricultural Sector and to encourage further studies in the scarce and critical skills occupational categories.
The Department has not only catered for the graduate interns, but there are those of you who are completing your studies and there are some of our bursary holders who have committed service as interns during holiday periods. Some of you recently matriculated and are afforded the opportunity to be exposed to possible career opportunities in agriculture, before pursuing further academic studies.
Your personal development and growth is of utmost importance as we are preparing you to make a meaningful contribution to the Labour Market and the society of South African. You have attended various training courses of life skills, work ethics, basic computer training, diversity management, HIV/&AIDS, gender sensitivity and an induction programme into the Department of Agriculture and the Public Sector as a whole.
We are thankful that our mentors have increased by 100% and that we could enter into a partnership agreement with external 'host employers' who have come on board in order to assist the Department in expanding the scope of this programme to allow you to serve your internship not only with the Department of Agriculture, but to experience working for other organisations within the Agricultural Sector.
I know that one of our interns has been accepted into our YPP (Young Professional Person's Programme) and is currently studying for his Masters in Agricultural Economics.
I am aware that the purpose of this workshop is to:
Evaluate and establish how beneficial the Internship Programme has been for you.
Highlight the benefits of having implemented this programme in the Dept. of Agriculture.
Identify any improvements or new ideas for the Internship Programme.
Motivate and encourage you who are on the programme and helping you to find your niche in life.
Motivate and encourage the Mentors to realise their role in the development of the interns and to acknowledge their contribution in enriching the Department and the Agricultural Sector by sharing their skills and knowledge.
Program Director I want to conclude by expressing my excitement in this program and wishing you well in your stay with us. I trust that you will find this period one of the most enriching times of your life.
ENQUIRIES:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 4930
Fax: 021 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
Email: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
www.capegateway.gov.za
