In his State of the Nation address 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.

And yet today, as I stand here, I feel emboldened to appropriate for our people the promise contained in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, when God said:
For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out in peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree?

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 this season of hope. In his words, lied not only a myriad of challenges, but if explored, it carries within it the seeds of opportunity and hope to be cultivated, watered and weeded to produce the sweet fruits of prosperity and total freedom for all the people. Therefore the theme for this budget:
CREATING HOPE FOR THE FUTURE FROM THE EARTH.

Landbou is in sy wese ook die vergestalting hiervan, weggebêre in die hoop wat in elke seisoen opnuut tot sy volheid moet kom uit die bloeisel, die saad, die eier en die fetus, om geboorte te gee aan die vrug, die koringkorrel, die kuiken en die skaaplam.

For now we are the custodians of that hope of the people, driven by our own awareness of their needs and the realisation of the enormity of the task that lies ahead. We are humbled by the fact that Agriculture in the Western Cape holds the key to the unlocking of a great portion of that hope and I quote from the budget speech by the Minister of Finance, colleague Lynne Brown, when she said: "Agriculture is a key sector in the Western Cape - as a sector its products directly or indirectly constitute over 40% of total exports from this Province. Through its support to the Land Reform programme, provision of extension and support services to emerging farmers and its human capital development interventions aimed at farm workers and farmers, the Department is building the basis on which groups previously marginalized can share in this prosperity". (Close quote)

The budget allocated to the Department of Agriculture for 2006/07 is R254 million. It is with these funds that we will proceed in creating hope for the future from the earth that not only belongs to all of us but that also should be protected by all of us.

President Mbeki het in sy openingsrede vanjaar die landbousektor geïdentifiseer as een van die sektore wat 'n beduidende rol moet speel in die bereiking van die regering se doelwit om die ekonomie met 6% te laat groei deur middel van die Versnelde Groei en Ontwikkeling Strategie (ASGISA). Binne die Departement van Landbou is daar verskeie programme wat deur hulle bydraes die klimaat help skep om die grondslag vir sukses te lê. Die sukses van ASGISA gaan afhang van die mate waarin ons in staat is om innoverend te dink sodat ons die kettings kan breek wat groei belemmer.

In this regard I am proud to announce that our program Agricultural Economics has made huge strides in its research on the development and production of bio-fuels with special emphasis on wheat. In the wheat producing areas of our Province, farmers are traditionally constrained by the lack of alternative uses for their natural resources. It is to this end, and also in response to the emphasis on bio-fuels as envisaged in the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA) that we have embarked on a study investigating the feasibility of Bio-Ethanol Production in the Western Cape and this will feed into the National strategy. From the completed first phase of the study it is clear that Bio-Ethanol production in the Western Cape will not only increase farm incomes, secure the existing jobs and create more employment; the fuel from surplus wheat will supply 6% of the energy needs of the Province. We have earmarked R125 000 for the continued investigation based on the National strategy.

President Mbeki in his State of the Nation address has announced the principle of a dedicated rural finance scheme in 2004. I am proud to announce that a pilot project will be launched for the Western Cape during this financial year in the Boland and parts of the West Coast District Municipalities. Farmers that meet certain criteria will be eligible for a production loan of up to R100 000 at a very affordable interest rate. This pilot project will be launched in close collaboration with the Landbank, Cape Agri, Agri Western Cape, NAFU and Wekufu. The Department will spend R120 000 on this specific pilot project.

Although final Agreement on the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Code of Good Conduct for the Agricultural Sector (AgriBEE) has not yet been reached at a national level, considerable consensus has already been attained between the various stakeholders. In order to combat any misconceptions and to prepare the Province for a fast-tracked implementation drive, my Department will facilitate an Agribee awareness campaign throughout the Province. Between May and November this year training sessions, sponsored by the National Department of Agriculture, will be held in each Municipality.

Our commitment to the Provincial Growth and Development Summit, held on 14 November 2003, has resulted in the strategic plan for the Agriculture and Agri-business sector with its forward and backward linkages. It was launched last Friday on 12 May. One of the recommendations of this process was that an Agribusiness Investment Unit should be established. This initiative will attract valuable capital from other sectors of the economy as well as from abroad. It will enhance the economic growth of the Western Cape and thus lead to job creation. An amount of R50 000 will be spent on this investigation.

Reliable and timely data, together with spatial attributes are essential for effective and rational managerial decision making at all levels within agriculture. A farmer survey to determine certain attributes of our farms on a regional basis will empower our agricultural decision makers, to make sound production; marketing and social responsibility decisions that will strengthen the Province's Agricultural sector resource base. In the same vein the emerging agricultural sector will receive attention in order to spatially determine numbers and location. Statistics like these will enable all of us to make improved decisions and policies to the benefit of all agricultural and other communities in the Western Cape. R60 000 has been allocated to this program. The total budget for agricultural economics programme is R8, 494 million.

The programme Farmer Support and Development has lost its Director Ms Joyene Isaacs, but as the saying goes: The ones loss is the others gain. Ms Isaacs has been appointed the new head of the Department in place of Dr Piet van Rooyen who have reached the end of the term of his contract. I want to thank Dr van Rooyen for his service to the Department and at the same say to Ms Isaacs that I know she has the ability to take the Department successfully into the new season of hope.

The budget of the Farmer Support and Development programme for the 2006/2007 financial year stands on R78, 865 million, representing an increase of 54,93 % from the 2004/05 base year. It represents an enormous growth in this very important programme, which deals mainly with emerging farmers, including land reform beneficiaries and food security projects.

During the past year the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Program (CASP) supported about 1 757 beneficiaries, with about 42 projects whilst we were able to support about 1 027 different beneficiaries with about 129 projects (about 35 food security projects) with Provincial Infrastructure Grant (PIG) funding.

A land reform evaluation study was completed, and the results highlighted the success (54.2%) but also identified the needs of other land reform projects.

The acceptance by Cabinet, of the farm worker development strategy, based on the needs identified by the farm workers during the past two years, has paved the way for implementation.

The pace of Land Reform is much to slow as highlighted by the Provincial and National Land Summits last year. This is mainly due to a very tedious process and the lack of availability of funds. The department of Land Affairs is in the process of formulating new strategies to address an accelerated program. The targets for 2006/7 are:

• 20 141 hectares of Agricultural land to 3,072 beneficiaries.
• 38 Hectares to 368 beneficiaries for sustainable human settlements, and industrial and economic development and
• 1300 hectares of commonage

The cooperation between our Department and the Department of Land Affairs in the Province is excellent. We have established a Provincial Land Reform Coordinating committee in order to work in a more structured manner that will enhance the process.

Farm workers and Land Reform are the two priority items on our agenda. The restructuring of the support services to farmers, using the LRAD study as a basis and the rollout of the farm worker development programme, will be done in collaboration with provincial and national departments.

Included in the budget of R8, 486 million for farm worker development, to reach about 14 000 farm workers directly you will find:

• R1, 25 million allocated over the next 4 years for the training of farm workers, which include women and children from these communities.
• A Foetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention training project for the training of 3000 adults over a period of 4 years with a budget of R205 200,00.
• A 3-year project on the improvement of farm worker health and safety systems, which involve the training of 4000 farm workers with a budget of R131 000.
• The testing and counselling of 500 farm workers along the West Coast in the HIV/Aids project will cost R 100 000,00.
• Bursaries for 5 students from the Farm worker Community for 2006 that amount to R 100 000,00 will be awarded.

We are thankful that our Land Reform program has produced an overall success rate of 54,2% in comparison to the world norm of 19% however this is not good enough. In an attempt to curb failures the FSD programme will embark on a serious program to investigate the struggling LRAD projects.

The conditional grant - CASP for 2006/07 stands on R17, 604 million and will be used to support 133 projects for about 5765 beneficiaries in all the district municipalities and another 9 strategic projects - which involve other programmes such as veterinarian services and agricultural economy.

Casidra assists us in the rollout of several CASP projects. Such as Nelspoort farm that is managed and developed on behalf of the Vuyani Development Trust. The Trust currently leases the land from the Beaufort West Municipality. Two students from the trust received bursaries from Elsenburg and are studying towards a B-degree in Agriculture.

The community farm, Anhalt, was turned around to become a premium exporter of Pink Lady apples. The farm Jackalskraal was developed into a commercial dairy farm and handed over to the Kranshoek Griqua Community Trust. This project not only became a commercial success but is now ploughing back some of the profits into a bursary fund for students from Kranshoek. Casidra is still providing assistance and support.

About 987 individuals will benefit from the Provincial Infrastructure Grant, to the tune of R 11, 987 million. The PIG conditional grant is also used to support our traditional farmers in the Act 9 areas, as well as individual emerging farmers, and thus the proposed allocations are once again per district municipality, totalling 52 community based interventions and, 3 provincial strategic projects.

Food security projects have increased from 13 gardens in 2003/2004 to 30 gardens in this financial year, and will reach about 300 beneficiaries. In addition about 40 existing gardens will also be assisted with agricultural starter packs to further strengthen these projects. Throughout the process of implementation of projects, extension services will be provided, and the estimated number of beneficiaries to be supported will be 4 000.

Research and Development addresses three pillars of iKapa Elihlumayo, i.e. micro-economic strategy, building human capital with the emphasis on youth, and a spatial development framework for the Province, whereby the challenges of the first and second economy are also addressed. The total Budget for Technology Research and Development is R45, 924 million.

The research budget of R24, 8 million is allocated in the following way: Animal Production (R9, 7 million), Plant Production (R10, 765) and Resource Utilization (R3, 03 million).

A total number of 172 research projects are executed by 140 staff members, including 7 specialist researchers. It is a well-known fact that the Western Cape will be affected the most by climate change. The Department has therefore aligned itself, especially with regard to water management and resource utilization strategies, to keep abreast of the challenges of climate change. The climate change programme includes focus areas such as research on sustainable crop rotation and alternative farming systems, alternative crops, research on the effective use of irrigation water, alternative water resource management initiatives, remote sensing and disaster alleviation, development of non-explored water resources, the eradication of invader plants and the use of satellite information in climate forecasts and crop predictions, to name a few.

Geographic information systems (GIS) have become a standard tool used by all agencies involved in regional planning and development. The Department has risen to the challenge by increasing our regional GIS capacity to better liaise with local government towards promoting sustainable land use and improving agricultural service delivery in close co-operation with other role players.

As een van die Kersfeesdoelwitte het die Instituut vir Plantproduksie 'n navorsingsperseel in Phillippi op Orient Farm van die Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) gevestig. 'n Unieke vennootskap waar die Departement die navorsingskundigheid en tegniese opleiding in groente verbouing aan ontwikkelende boere van die omgewing sal verskaf, met die MJC wat die perseel en opleidingsfasiliteite verskaf, en 'n boer, mnr Moore, wat die kommersiële groente-verbouingskundigheid en onderhoud van die perseel, na die tafel bring is gevestig. Aspekte soos bio-diversiteit, die organiese verbouing van groente en vrugte van hoogstaande gehalte, die maak van kompos, asook die bestuur en organisasie van stedelike tuinbou projekte, sal in die Phillippi model ingebou kan word.

'n Nuwe program vir die ontwikkeling van vleisbees weidingproduksiestelsels is vanjaar op die Outeniekwa proefplaas van stapel gestuur. Hierdie program is verder ontwikkel om veral die behoeftes van opkomende boere in die area aan te spreek.

The Institute for Animal Production has been pivotal in the provision of technical training and mentorship to the owners, 16 previously disadvantaged individuals, of Klein Eikeboom Farm near Wellington. The business strategy of this dairy farm is to optimize the excellent market opportunities that have been created over the first two and a half years of the business operation.

Die analitiese laboratorium van die Departement ontleed meer as 30 000 grond, plant en water monsters jaarliks en is 'n onontbeerlike diens aan boere, adviseurs en ander rolspelers. Omdat hierdie laboratorium ook 'n kritiese rol gaan speel in die strategie van die Departement om die nadelige effekte van klimaatsverandering op landbou in die Wes-Kaap te buffer, is daar vanjaar toerusting van nagenoeg R2 miljoen vervang om steeds op die voorpunt van die nuutste ontledingstegnologie te bly.

Small stock has provided South African, and in particular Western Cape farmers with a stable, reliable income over years. The advent of international trade and industry regulations, however, has resulted in severe restrictions on the usage of environmentally unfriendly agrochemicals. An integrated pollution prevention control directive has been drafted for implementation in 2007, the ostrich industry, with a gross turnover of approximately R1, 5 billion, and 60% of its products being exported, is being assisted by the Department in Eurepgap standards and traceability, in particular.

Having a piece of land to farm on and simply wanting to farm is not enough to ensure success in agriculture. Farmers and their workers need a minimum level of appropriate knowledge and skills to ensure their success and sustainability of their farming operations. But these farmers and farm workers also need adequate support services from both the public and private sector to assist them in their endeavours to be locally, nationally and internationally competitive.

Die Departement van Landbou: Wes-Kaap is ernstig in sy strewe om die kundigheidsvlakke en vaardighede van die sleutel rolspelers in landbou in die Provinsie (vanaf die laagste tot hoogste vlakke) uit te bou. Om hierdie doelwit te bereik is die ontwikkeling en implementering van 'n Menslike Hulpbron-ontwikkelingstrategie vir die Landbou in die Wes-Kaap noodsaaklik. Hierdie strategie sal verskeie programme insluit wat sal verseker dat die behoefte aan kundigheid en vaardighede wat deur die sektor in die provinsie benodig word, ontwikkel word. Spesiale klem sal gelê word op die ontwikkeling van skaarsvaardighede en kundigheid wat nodig is om transformasie in die landbou sektor te bevorder. Aspekte wat sal aandag kry sluit onder andere in die opleiding van landbouers in die kommersiële en opkomende sektore, plaaswerkers, jeug- en mentorskapprogramme, internskap en leerlingskap-opleiding en finansiële steun aan behoeftige studente.

Die Program Gestruktureerde Landbou-Opleiding gaan vanjaar R22,651 miljoen spandeer in die ontwikkeling van hierdie doelwitte.

Die hoë standaard van opleiding wat deur die Kaapse Instituut vir Landbou-Opleiding by Elsenburg aangebied word, het erkenning gekry met 'n goue toekenning in die "Premiers Excellence Award"-kompetisie wat in 2005 plaasgevind het.

Om opleiding meer toeganklik te maak vir veral die opkomende boere en plaaswerkers is opleidingsentra op George, Oudtshoorn en Clanwilliam reeds in werking gestel, terwyl 'n sentrum ook in Bredasdorp gevestig word. Die vestiging van 'n sentrum in die Karoo- en Hexrivier areas word tans ondersoek.

Leerlingskap-opleiding in die Voortgesette Onderwys en Opleidingsverband word voortgesit - 48 studente het op 3 Mei hul opleiding by Elsenburg begin. Twee van die leerders wat verlede jaar vlak 1 voltooi het en hierdie jaar NQF vlak 4 in Wingerdbou doen, Aubrey Roberts en Joseph Muller is vandag hier.

Ons het ook twee beurshouers, naamlik Samuel Jelander en Hendrik Booysen in ons midde. Beide studente is nou besig met BAgric en is tans in hul 3de jaar. Samuel Jelander het ook 'n merietebeurs vanaf die Universiteit van Stellenbosch ontvang vanweë bogemiddelde akademiese prestasie. Hy is onder die top 15% studente van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Op grond hiervan is hy genooi om lid te word van die Golden Key International Honour Society. Ere lede van die Golden Key is onder andere Emeritus Dr Desmond Tutu, Mnr Trevor Maneul, Dr Naledi Pandor en Dr Leon Wessels.

Ons gaan voort met verskeie Buitelands gefinansierde projekte.

Die CAPRI-projek (Cape Programme for Rural Innovation) met Wageningen Universiteit in Nederland word tans geïmplementeer. Hierdie projek is gemik op die ontwikkeling van 'n kurrikulum vir die BAgric-program om huidige en potensiële Landbouvoorligters in die Wes-, Noord- en Oos-Kaap provinsies op te lei. '

Die FAMU-projek met Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in die VSA het nou die halfpad merk bereik.

Die verdere ondersteuning van plaaswerkers om opleiding in Wingerdbou en Wynkunde, Kaasmaak en Kuipery in Frankryk te onderneem, word weer vanjaar voortgesit. Ons is trots op hierdie mense van wie reeds wynmakers en kaasmakers is wat hulle merk gemaak het met kampioen wyne en kase. Daar gaan vanjaar weer vier aspirant kaasmakers en tien leerling wynmakers na Boergondië. Hulle is ook almal hier teenwoordig.

Volhoubare ontwikkeling en bewaring van ons skaars hulpbronne om volgehoue Landboupraktyke te verseker kry hierdie jaar 'n toekenning van R35, 3 miljoen.

Teen die huidige trant gaan die waterverbruik van die Kaapse Metropool binnekort die voorsiening vanuit die beskikbare waterbronne oortref. Die besproeiingssektor is verantwoordelik vir ongeveer 50% van totale huidige verbruik en moet dus betrokke raak by die vind van gebalanseerde oplossings.

Die Departement het reeds 'n program geloods om die werklike waterverbruiksdoeltreffendheid deur besproeiingsboere in die Wes-Kaap te bepaal om sodoende die hoeveelheid kg vrugte geproduseer per kubieke meter water te verbeter. Die program is tans in De Doorns (tafeldruiwe), Worcester (wyndruiwe), Ceres (pere), Stellenbosch (pruime), Sandveld (aartappels) en Vredendal (wyndruiwe) aan die gang.

Produsente word reeds bygestaan om hul waterverbruik te optimiseer en foute in hul besproeiingstelsels en skedulering uit te skakel. Die resultate van die projek tot dusver dui daarop dat water oor die algemeen effektief benut word. Die gemiddelde verbetering in die waterverbruiksdoeltreffendheid het met tussen 12 en 15% gestyg waar die program geïmplimenteer is. Die bevindinge sal beskikbaar gestel word om produsente oor die hele Provinsie dieselfde ondersteuning te gee. Die koste van die projek beloop R650 000 per jaar.

Die departement is voortdurend besig om metodes te ondersoek waardeur graanboere hulle insetkoste kan verlaag. Bewaringsboerdery is een so 'n metode. Ongeveer 120 boere in die saaigebiede van die Wes-Kaap is gedurende die 2005 seisoen met advies bedien rakende die omskakeling na Bewaringsboerdery.

Verlede jaar het 225 boere ongeveer 265 000 ha direk gesaai m.a.w. sonder enige vorm van vooraf-bewerking, met goeie resultate. Die koste van die projek beloop R470 000 per jaar.

Om te bepaal hoe die beskikbare waterbronne beter benut kan word en waar daar potensiaal is vir die ontginning van nuwe en alternatiewe bronne tot voordeel van gevestigde en veral opkomende boere en gemeenskappe vind die volgende ondersoeke en projekte onder leiding van die program Volhoubare Hulpbronbenutting plaas:

• Oudtshoorn Landbou waterondersoek R3 miljoen
• Olifants/Doringrivier Studie: Verlede jaar R6 miljoen en hierdie jaar R1, 5 miljoen
• George Waterstudie: R2, 5 miljoen
• Koebeebergprojek: R900 000
• Zoar Waterbronstudie R600 000

This year we will have 50 Junior LandCare camps that will accommodate 4500 historically disadvantaged students, raising awareness with them on sustainable resource use for example efficient water use, biodiversity education, climate change as well as social skills such as team work and leadership skills. R700 000 has been allocated to theses camps.

The Land Care sub-program has experienced difficulty in employing skilled historically disadvantaged staff in the past 3 years. To address this problem LandCare has appointed 14 engineering Interns for an 11-month period. This will be an ongoing process to attract successfully skilled staff to conduct our service and obtain equity. This innovative program started at the beginning of 2006 and we trust it will build great capacity within the scarce skills of LandCare in South Africa.

Die toekenning van R25 673 miljoen vir Veeartsenydienste sal hoofsaaklik, maar nie uitsluitlik nie, aangewend word om vyf aspekte aan te spreek, naamlik:

• Dieresiekte voorkoming en beheer
• Voortdurende monitering vir verskeie belangrike siektes
• Uitvoer fasilitering
• Veiligheid van vleis produkte
• Laboratorium diagnostiese diens

Siekte voorkoming is tot 'n groot mate afhanklik van goeie voorligting aan alle boere, beide gevestigde en nuwe toetreders. Waar siektes van ekonomiese belang uitbreek sal toepaslike stappe geneem word om dit te bekamp en uit te roei soos die geval was met Europese Varkpes die afgelope jaar en tans met Afrika Perdesiekte.

It is of utmost importance that regular testing to monitor for the presence of important diseases such as Bovine Tuberculosis, Avian Influenza, Classical Swine Fever and others, continue. As a result of intensive testing for Avian Influenza and Classical Swine Fever the province can claim freedom of these diseases. In this financial year the cattle of emerging farmers on the Cape Flats will be tested for Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis. This testing will be done free of charge and has become possible with the mobile handling facility acquired by the department. At the same time emerging farmers will be given information regarding basic disease prevention measures that should be taken.

In Julie 2004 is voëlgriep op twee volstruisplase in die Oos-Kaap gevind en dit het gelei tot 'n 15-maande lang verbod op die uitvoer van volstruisvleis. Hierdie verbod het 'n R700 miljoen verlies tot gevolg gehad. Sowat 4 000 werksgeleenthede is ook in die proses verloor.

Die Wes-Kaap is die hartland van die Suid-Afrikaanse volstruisbedryf met sowat 70% van die totale produksie wat hier plaasvind. Die Suid-Afrikaanse volstruisbedryf verskaf werk aan sowat 16 000 mense en verdien R1, 2 miljard per jaar aan buitelandse valuta vir die land. Dit is 'n bedryf wat 90% uitvoergerig is.

The ostrich industry however, grasped the challenge and embarked on an intensive awareness and marketing campaign within South Africa and that led to a five-fold increase in local consumption of ostrich meat. When exports were resumed in October 2005, the ostrich industry gave local consumers the assurance that the industry will continue to serve the growing South African market. The industry is still in the process of regaining shelf space and market share that were lost in Europe and as that materialises, some of the job losses might also be mitigated.

The challenge was ours to give hope to the industry and the thousands of workers who stood to lose their jobs. Together we worked and won the battle.

As a token of their appreciation of the support received from the Department and the Government, the Ostrich Industry donated these engraved Ostrich Eggs that, when switched on, it produces light as a sign of hope. Every member will receive one.

Uitvoere is egter ook afhanklik van gereelde inspeksies van uitvoer slagfasiliteite deur beamptes van Veeartsenydiens. Verder sal voorgeskrewe monsters by sulke fasiliteite geneem word vir laboratorium monitering van higiëne. Sonder hierdie aksies word vleis nie aanvaar in lande waarheen dit uitgevoer word nie. Die gereelde monitering vir belangrike siektes soos voorheen genoem dra ook by tot die aanvaarding van ons vleisprodukte. Die uitvoer van vleis van ander spesies word nou ook moontlik, omdat jaarlikse registrasie van skaap, vark en wild plase nou ook deur hierdie departement, in samewerking met die Nasionale Departement van Landbou, gedoen word.

Speaker I trust that Agriculture will be able to deliver from the earth the hope that was envisaged by the Premier when he quoted the words of the late Nkosi Albert Luthuli. I want to take you back to those words:

"The task is not finished, South Africa is not yet a home for all her sons and daughters. Such a home we wish to ensure. The past cannot hope to have a life sustained by itself, wrenched from the whole. There remains before us the building of a new land, a home for man who are black, white, brown, from the ruins of the old narrow groups, a synthesis of the rich cultural strains, which we have inherited. Somewhere ahead there beckons a civilization, a culture, which will take its place in the parade of God's history. It will not necessarily be all black, but it will be African."

Only when we have finally succeeded to create an environment where our people are totally free; where they are the rightful owners of the land; where they are full participants in the economy; only when we have finally shifted the frontiers of poverty, and the shackles of the past is truly "no more", will we be able to say that we have finished our task.

Speaker ek wil graag afsluit deur almal te bedank wat ons Departement die afgelope jaar bygestaan het:

• Die Premier en my kollegass in die Kanbinet,
• Me Zodwa Magwaza voorsitter van die portefeulje komitee en al die lede,
• Ons sektor vennote,
• Georganiseerde Llandbou(NAFU, AGRI WES-KAAP EN WECUFU),
• Die Boere van ons provinsie wat onder uiters moeilike omstandighede Landbou 'n ongekwalifiseerde sukses maak in die Provinsie,
• Ons Gaste in die galery,
• Dr piet van Rooyen,
• Joyene Isaacs en die Departement,
• My kantoorpersoneel en
• Laaste maar nie die minste nie my vrou en Familie vir hulle opoffering dikwels in eensaamheid. Dankie vir julle ondersteuning.