Speech by Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Khabisi Mosunkutu, at the launch of the first Gauteng Agricultural Hub

Programme Director, Mr Motlajo Makaepea
Executive Mayor of the host District, Councillor Agnes Mlondobozi
Executive Mayors, Members of Mayoral Committees and Councillors present
Representative of the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Mr Mzwakhe Ndlela
Chief Director, Agriculture branch, Mr Sebitloane
Officials from the different spheres of government
Leaders and representatives of various organisations present
People of Metsweding
Farmers
Invited guests
Ladies and gentlemen

I am delighted to be amongst you all today and to say a few words in relation to the project that we today are celebrating and launching. It perhaps is important to briefly comment on the location of the launch of the first provincial agricultural hub in Metsweding relating this to the concept of Gauteng as a Global City Region. Amongst important aspects of the Global City Region is the notion of specialisation and co-ordination and co-operation. We perhaps would be aware that Gauteng has various areas of strengths. Some of the regions that constitute Gauteng have strong and established manufacturing infrastructure and are therefore well positioned to specialise in further growing the manufacturing sector. Some are strong administrative hubs whilst others would be capable financial sectors.

I am mentioning all of this because of the need for us all to focus on our strengths, minimise areas of weaknesses and utilise available opportunities to ensure that we meet our moral and political obligations to better the lives of our people. Naturally, the business sector, commercial farmers and emerging farmers included would evaluate business opportunities availed by the establishment of this hub for their specific needs. There is a view to the effect that poverty is not solely a consequence of lack of formal employment opportunity. In relation to this point of view, the creation of this facility avails opportunities for the people of Metsweding to not only ward off poverty, but also to create wealth for themselves and for their community.

Fruitfully engaging with this project, we certainly also will contribute to the Gross Domestic Product of the province and the country. In this regard, I strongly wish to recommend that officials from both my department and from the local municipalities should explore ways of getting local communities to create co-operatives. These co-operatives certainly would be best placed to utilise opportunities availed by this facility to create and multiply the wealth of their local communities. Also important, we need to locate our collective involvement to embrace the entire agricultural value chain, including in the aspect of agro-processing and biotechnology.

Before concluding my remarks, I wish to remind the community of Metsweding that this facility is developed from an extremely scarce resource. The total farmland in Gauteng is 774 265 hectares (ha). Of this, 438 623 ha are potentially arable and 390 000 ha is grazing land. The amount of potentially arable land that is currently being cultivated is approximately 293 571 ha (67%). The provincial government has been at pains to zone off available high potential agricultural land. Understanding that we have stiff competition for land use in the province, it would indeed be foolhardy not to take full opportunity of this facility not only to fight poverty but also to put Metsweding in the global agricultural market - thereby improving the economic standing not only of Metsweding but that of the province and the country at large. Towards this objective, I wish to encourage beneficiaries of this project not to stop seeking relevant information from officials from my department. We should be able to co-operating with research and academic institutions, establish which niche agricultural products are best suited for this environment and for the national and international market.

In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge the role played by the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs for ensuring acquisition of this land for urban agricultural purposes. I wish to commend, in particular, Mr Mzwakhe Ndlela, who is quite passionate about land reform for deepening our democracy. I am certain that we shall continue relying on his passion to free more land that will continue being placed at the disposal of our people to ensure that our people benefit more materially from our democratic dispensation.

I also wish to make a brief suggestion to the Executive Mayor of the District, to executive mayors of local municipalities, to all councillors and leaders of Metsweding. This is the first formal Provincial Agricultural hub. Eyes are on you to see how you utilise the facility and the opportunities availed by it to better the lives of our people and to register the district in the market and commercial map of the province, the country and the international world. I also wish to commend officials from my department, the local municipality, not forgetting the Community Development Workers. The task ahead is still arduous and needs all your efforts.

I thank you all.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng Provincial Government
23 May 2007