Date: 12/03/2004
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs
Title: T Didiza: World Congress of International Federation of Agricultural Journalists
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS, MS THOKO DIDIZA, DURING THE OPENING DINNER OF THE 10TH WORLD CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURAL JOURNALISTS AT THE MABALINGWE NATURE RESERVE, BELA-BELA, 12 March 2004
Mr Master of Ceremonies
President of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, Mr Hans Heinrich Matthiesen
President of AgriSA, Mr Japie Grobler
Manager of the TAU SA, Mr Bennie van Zyl
Managing Director of New Holland South Africa, Mr Poenie van der Merwe
Chairman of the Agricultural Writers' Association of South Africa, Mr Charl van Rooyen
Other dignitaries
Overseas visitors
Ladies and gentlemen
It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome all the overseas visitors who came to South Africa, not only to attend the 10th World Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, but also to have a closer look at South African agriculture.
And what better way to scrutinise this country's agriculture than under the leadership of our best agricultural journalists? They earn their bread and butter by studying the various methods farmers use to produce food in order to offer this information in their various magazines, newspapers and television and radio programmes to other farmers so that they may learn from them.
I understand that a very small group of local agricultural journalists were responsible for all the arrangements for this world congress. From what I have seen and experienced so far, the thoroughness is typical of what we would like to see in all South Africans.
But who is this Agricultural Writers' Association of South Africa? The association was established in Pretoria in 1977 as a voluntary, non-profit making professional body and is representative of agricultural journalists serving the industry through magazines, newspapers, radio and television, as well as people in related professions, such as public relations officers.
I am proud to be the patron of this small but proud body of journalists, as we serve the same people, namely the farmers of South Africa. Together we do our best to further the cause of all farmers, big and small, in order to make our country self-sufficient concerning food and fibre.
One of the association's most important tasks is to advance the profession of agricultural journalism through stimulation of thought, study, research, discussion and dissemination of information to members.
Of equal importance is the annual awards dinner where National Farmer and Agriculturist of the Year are announced. I am pleased to hear that the association is working hard towards extending their awards to emerging farmers as well, in order to acknowledge these important members of the farming community of South Africa as well. Furthermore, they are on the threshold of an annual award to Farm worker of the Year, because without farm workers there can be no successful agriculture in any part of the world. The Agricultural Writers' Association has also been discussing the possibility of an award to another important group in the farming sector: those people whose task it is to bring information to the farmers, namely the extension officers, especially those in rural areas.
I must again congratulate the Agricultural Writers' Association on everything they have achieved in the past, especially on the success of this world congress, but at the same time I want to urge you to speed up with these new plans to acknowledge members of the emerging farming community, because they are part of the future of South African agriculture. Please put your money where your mouth is and show your patron that you are not only there for the commercial farmers, but also for these people who are working so hard to help build this wonderful country of ours.
Although I am currently the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, I also studied journalism, and it is still very near to my heart.
South Africa celebrates ten years of democracy this year, making it a very special year to us. Ten years ago, in 1994, we were faced with the challenge of addressing poverty, hunger, disease and landlessness. The right of access to sufficient food and water, health care and social security became fundamental in our new democracy. The issue of landlessness is being addressed through the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) programme. During the past year, LRAD approved 838 projects, benefiting 15 605 individuals. This programme is designed to provide grants to previously disadvantaged South African citizens to access land specifically for agricultural purposes. In total about 300 000 ha agricultural land have been distributed through LRAD. The country's agricultural sector came together in 2001 to forge a vision of a "United and Prosperous Agricultural Sector" with a view to work collectively, towards attaining equitable and profitable participation in agriculture for economic growth and poverty alleviation.
The Agricultural Sector Plan was internalised at commodity level through a process of consultation, leading to three industrial action plans for cotton, grain and livestock, which are in various stages of development.
There is also a programme on black economic empowerment (BEE) in agriculture, known as AgriBEE, with the aim of improving access to agricultural value chain by potential and existing black farmers.
The Republic of South Africa covers an area of 121,9 million ha, and has a total population of about 46,6 million people. About 13% of the surface area can be used for crop production. High-potential arable land comprises only 22% of the total arable land area. Slightly more than 1,3 million ha are under irrigation.
The most important factor limiting agricultural production is the availability of water. Rainfall is distributed unevenly across the country, with humid, subtropical conditions occurring in the east and dry, desert conditions in the west.
South Africa is suitable for the cultivation of a large variety of crops. The largest area of cultivated farmland is planted to maize, followed by wheat and, on a lesser scale, sugar cane, oats and sunflower.
Formal agriculture provides employment for about 900 000 farm workers. In addition, the smallholder sector provides full or part-time employment for at least 1,3 million households. In terms of export earnings, agriculture contributes about R28 billion annually. The most important export products are citrus, fruit, wine, sugar, deciduous fruit and grapes. The major import products include rice, wheat, palm oil and oil-cake. South Africa's largest trading partners are the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Mozambique, Germany and Zimbabwe.
We can now say that the tide has turned for the people of South Africa. The winds of progress have prevailed as a result of the partnership between Government and the people. We are moving steadily to new shores of hope and prosperity, confident that we will reach our goals of providing food for the hungry, land to the landless and empowerment to the disempowered.
Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs
12 March 2004
Source: Department of Agriculture (http://www.nda.agric.za)
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs
Title: T Didiza: World Congress of International Federation of Agricultural Journalists
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS, MS THOKO DIDIZA, DURING THE OPENING DINNER OF THE 10TH WORLD CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURAL JOURNALISTS AT THE MABALINGWE NATURE RESERVE, BELA-BELA, 12 March 2004
Mr Master of Ceremonies
President of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, Mr Hans Heinrich Matthiesen
President of AgriSA, Mr Japie Grobler
Manager of the TAU SA, Mr Bennie van Zyl
Managing Director of New Holland South Africa, Mr Poenie van der Merwe
Chairman of the Agricultural Writers' Association of South Africa, Mr Charl van Rooyen
Other dignitaries
Overseas visitors
Ladies and gentlemen
It gives me enormous pleasure to welcome all the overseas visitors who came to South Africa, not only to attend the 10th World Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, but also to have a closer look at South African agriculture.
And what better way to scrutinise this country's agriculture than under the leadership of our best agricultural journalists? They earn their bread and butter by studying the various methods farmers use to produce food in order to offer this information in their various magazines, newspapers and television and radio programmes to other farmers so that they may learn from them.
I understand that a very small group of local agricultural journalists were responsible for all the arrangements for this world congress. From what I have seen and experienced so far, the thoroughness is typical of what we would like to see in all South Africans.
But who is this Agricultural Writers' Association of South Africa? The association was established in Pretoria in 1977 as a voluntary, non-profit making professional body and is representative of agricultural journalists serving the industry through magazines, newspapers, radio and television, as well as people in related professions, such as public relations officers.
I am proud to be the patron of this small but proud body of journalists, as we serve the same people, namely the farmers of South Africa. Together we do our best to further the cause of all farmers, big and small, in order to make our country self-sufficient concerning food and fibre.
One of the association's most important tasks is to advance the profession of agricultural journalism through stimulation of thought, study, research, discussion and dissemination of information to members.
Of equal importance is the annual awards dinner where National Farmer and Agriculturist of the Year are announced. I am pleased to hear that the association is working hard towards extending their awards to emerging farmers as well, in order to acknowledge these important members of the farming community of South Africa as well. Furthermore, they are on the threshold of an annual award to Farm worker of the Year, because without farm workers there can be no successful agriculture in any part of the world. The Agricultural Writers' Association has also been discussing the possibility of an award to another important group in the farming sector: those people whose task it is to bring information to the farmers, namely the extension officers, especially those in rural areas.
I must again congratulate the Agricultural Writers' Association on everything they have achieved in the past, especially on the success of this world congress, but at the same time I want to urge you to speed up with these new plans to acknowledge members of the emerging farming community, because they are part of the future of South African agriculture. Please put your money where your mouth is and show your patron that you are not only there for the commercial farmers, but also for these people who are working so hard to help build this wonderful country of ours.
Although I am currently the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, I also studied journalism, and it is still very near to my heart.
South Africa celebrates ten years of democracy this year, making it a very special year to us. Ten years ago, in 1994, we were faced with the challenge of addressing poverty, hunger, disease and landlessness. The right of access to sufficient food and water, health care and social security became fundamental in our new democracy. The issue of landlessness is being addressed through the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) programme. During the past year, LRAD approved 838 projects, benefiting 15 605 individuals. This programme is designed to provide grants to previously disadvantaged South African citizens to access land specifically for agricultural purposes. In total about 300 000 ha agricultural land have been distributed through LRAD. The country's agricultural sector came together in 2001 to forge a vision of a "United and Prosperous Agricultural Sector" with a view to work collectively, towards attaining equitable and profitable participation in agriculture for economic growth and poverty alleviation.
The Agricultural Sector Plan was internalised at commodity level through a process of consultation, leading to three industrial action plans for cotton, grain and livestock, which are in various stages of development.
There is also a programme on black economic empowerment (BEE) in agriculture, known as AgriBEE, with the aim of improving access to agricultural value chain by potential and existing black farmers.
The Republic of South Africa covers an area of 121,9 million ha, and has a total population of about 46,6 million people. About 13% of the surface area can be used for crop production. High-potential arable land comprises only 22% of the total arable land area. Slightly more than 1,3 million ha are under irrigation.
The most important factor limiting agricultural production is the availability of water. Rainfall is distributed unevenly across the country, with humid, subtropical conditions occurring in the east and dry, desert conditions in the west.
South Africa is suitable for the cultivation of a large variety of crops. The largest area of cultivated farmland is planted to maize, followed by wheat and, on a lesser scale, sugar cane, oats and sunflower.
Formal agriculture provides employment for about 900 000 farm workers. In addition, the smallholder sector provides full or part-time employment for at least 1,3 million households. In terms of export earnings, agriculture contributes about R28 billion annually. The most important export products are citrus, fruit, wine, sugar, deciduous fruit and grapes. The major import products include rice, wheat, palm oil and oil-cake. South Africa's largest trading partners are the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Mozambique, Germany and Zimbabwe.
We can now say that the tide has turned for the people of South Africa. The winds of progress have prevailed as a result of the partnership between Government and the people. We are moving steadily to new shores of hope and prosperity, confident that we will reach our goals of providing food for the hungry, land to the landless and empowerment to the disempowered.
Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs
12 March 2004
Source: Department of Agriculture (http://www.nda.agric.za)
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