Successful international market access is a major challenge to producers in the South African Agricultural Industry, and the strategic linking of producers with importers is much sought after. To address this challenge the SA Agri Academy in partnership with the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape, and other role-players facilitated a trade mission to Den Haag, the Netherlands, from 9 - 16 April 2005 to match black emerging producers with foreign importers. I had the privilege of leading this important mission.
This visit formed part of a Memorandum of Agreement that was signed in December 2003 between the SA Agri Academy, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and the South African-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (SANEC) in the Netherlands.
The objective of the agreement is to match emerging export farmers with Dutch importers in the Netherlands, resulting in the opening up of the export market which will serve as the enabler to create sustainable employment possibilities as well as providing a living income for the participants and their families.
Representatives from ten farming enterprises were nominated by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture to partake in this mission. Eighty percent of the farmers nominated were beneficiaries of the government's Land Reform program and who are supported and guided by officials of the Directorate Farmer Support Services of the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape.
These farmers underwent extensive training and development through the SA Agri Academy Export Readiness Program. The outcome of various workshops was the development of a workable marketing plan and skills development to be able to deal with international importers. Besides the training received, the success of the matching meetings was also guaranteed by the support and presence of 3 SA Agri Academy mentors who guided and assisted farmers during the meetings.It is against this background that I say that it is a joyous occasion for us, because the mere fact that you are here shows that our emerging farmers were able to engage with you in such a way that you were prepared to travel to South Africa to further the possibility of exports through your company. It also gives us hope that we are on the right track with the training program and the quality of the produce that we can deliver to the market.
We value your visit also in the broader sense, as we believe that there are a lot that we can learn from you in terms of market requirements and trends, Product quality and skills and technology transfer, to name but a few.
We also need committed people to be our partners in pushing back the frontiers of poverty and thus improving the quality of life of those who were deprived through apartheid, for so many years.
As much as it is our own challenge, we know that you are also committed in assisting us to ensure that agriculture can contribute to economic stability, development and growth, for the benefit of all, as the backbone of a thriving rural and provincial economy and to support us in our endeavor to foster reconciliation, equitable transformation and stability, which is the mainstream of a vibrant civil society and contributes to a safe and secure life to the people of our Province.
I trust that you will have a pleasant stay in the Western Cape and that your visit will be beneficial to all the parties concerned. Please also take time out to enjoy what we have to offer in the form of the products of our vineyards, our scenery and our hospitality.
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Spokesperson
Ministry of Agriculture: Western Cape
Tel: 021 483 4930
Fax: 021 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
E-mail: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
A Home for All ~ 'n Tuiste vir Almal ~ iKaya Lethu Sonke
Department of Agriculture
