Date: 03/12/2002
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molewa: Hand-over of cattle-breeding project to Moretele community, North West
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE NORTH WEST MEC FOR AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT, MS BEE MOLEWA, AT THE HANDING-OVER CEREMONY OF NERPO'S PRESIDENTIAL BULL AND HEIFER PROJECT, 3 December 2002
Programme Director:
I cherish the opportunity to play a role in this most august occasion as we hand over heifers to the community of Moretele. This is done with the aim of empowering, improving production standards and growing socio-economic needs of the farming community in the province and South Africa at large.
I have no doubt whatsoever that this venture will improve the quality of life for the province.
Allow me therefore, Programme Director, that to convey a message of support from the provincial government. We are committed to play an active role in development projects such as this one, whose ultimate goal is to contribute towards rural development, economic growth and advancement for our people.
The achievement of this objective lays the foundation for progress and prosperity of our nation.
I previously had the pleasure and honour of interacting with the executive of the organisation, and in this regard I wish to give credit to your Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mahanjane, and the executive members who found it necessary and important to engage in mutual talks in the name of service delivery.
We may not have come out strong, in your view, in support of requests made at our meetings. But believe me, we are greatly committed to and serious about rendering effective service and fostering partnerships with you and other role-players. The provincial government, the local government and our department are continuously trying to find ways of making service delivery more effective, less bureaucratic and more accountable to you the client.
For this reason, we need to enter into serious partnerships with role-players and stakeholders and jointly work towards our goal. The importance of organisation and strong institutional development, especially among the disadvantaged themselves, is a prerequisite in order to take advantage of collective strength. The government alone can never hope to achieve all that needs to be done all by itself. This organisation, NERPO, could never have come at a better time.
I would like to turn to matters pertinent to red meat production, which I have no doubt, there is more interest in.
I am here today to offer you words of encouragement in the challenges that we are faced with. The challenges to be overcome by the small scale and emerging farmers en route to their entering the commercial farmers market include
* Practicing designed breeding programmes
* Adaptation of livestock to environment
* Creating mechanisms that make controlled grazing possible
* Ability to prevent and fight livestock deceases
* Improving profitability of small scale farmers
* Creating access to open markets
* Value adding opportunities
* Development of business management skills
The issue of lack of access to start-up finance to small and emerging farmers remains a major challenge.
Success in meeting all these challenges delivers many benefits. These include the growth of the agricultural sector contribution to South Africa's GDP, potential for earning more foreign revenue and the creation of jobs which in turn leads to improved quality of life.
The small and emerging farmers need to be mentored into playing the game by the rules. Here I foresee a major role played by the extension services by the respective Departments of Agriculture. There is no doubt that this suggests a vigorous approach in which the genetic programme is accompanied by improved management, animal health, marketing opportunities for the products and extension support with trained local people in our quest for capacity building.
As a province red meat production remains an important avenue for agricultural contribution to the economy, as more than 80% of our land is suitable for grazing.
The significance of this event should not be underestimated and understated. This event reflects the commitment of NERPO in creating opportunities for growth and development. Their programme is such that a farmer contributes two heifers and in turn NERPO acquires and provides a bull. This approach encourages an individual to make an effort and be initiative. "VUKEZENZELE". We must inculcate the culture of change, by taking responsibility for our survival and growth. A re tlogele gore Puso ga e ntirele sepe: wena o itirela eng. I, therefore applaud NERPO for showing its members how its members can contribute in developing themselves through this programme. It can be seen that this programme was designed with consideration to preserve the dignity of our people and maintaining decent standards of living without depending on handouts. This is a masterstroke.
The government has identified support for resource poor agriculture as a national priority. Our aim is to increase income and profitability of resource poor agriculture through livestock improvement. As a department we have a livestock improvement programme in place. This programme puts more emphasis on genetic material and marketing. We should note the importance of culling and marketing for the purpose of both veld improvement and profitability.
The project specifically targets emerging beef farmers in the North West Province with the main aim of empowering them to become self-sustaining by identifying new markets for their beef products. This will be addressed by equipping the project participants with knowledge and skills to practice and achieve continuous improvement of beef production.
I can therefore proudly say NERPO has proved that it is our true partner not only in livestock improvement but on other issues which include policy development.
Animal improvement is, therefore, the most important activity for both the Government and NERPO as partners in developing emergent red meat producers. And today, this occasion is intended to address needs for animal improvement.
This marks the end of dependency syndrome and the birth of Tsoga o itirele. This is a great challenge for the farmers and the farmer organisations, most of a lesson we need to learn from. The fact that NERPO has undertaken this extensive challenge bears testimony to their commitment to the development of their members. Let us emulate them.
I therefore call upon all agricultural organisations to play an active role in shaping the destiny of our emergent red meat producers. Allow me to recognize, thank and encourage for continuance:
* Mr Hennie Bezedenhoud - Bonsmara stud breeder
* Mr Balocco Ramanyola - stud breeder
* Mr Ephraim Majuda
* ARC for contributing land and training.
In conclusion, Programme Director, I urge staff of my department to recognise this project as a boost and use it well. You need to use it to create jobs and make a meaningful contribution to the economy. Allow me to use this opportunity to commend the NERPO executive and management in this venture to build a better life for all. As the Government and the Department we commit ourselves once again to active participation in your endeavours.
THANK YOU
PULA
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.org.za)
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Molewa: Hand-over of cattle-breeding project to Moretele community, North West
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE NORTH WEST MEC FOR AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT, MS BEE MOLEWA, AT THE HANDING-OVER CEREMONY OF NERPO'S PRESIDENTIAL BULL AND HEIFER PROJECT, 3 December 2002
Programme Director:
I cherish the opportunity to play a role in this most august occasion as we hand over heifers to the community of Moretele. This is done with the aim of empowering, improving production standards and growing socio-economic needs of the farming community in the province and South Africa at large.
I have no doubt whatsoever that this venture will improve the quality of life for the province.
Allow me therefore, Programme Director, that to convey a message of support from the provincial government. We are committed to play an active role in development projects such as this one, whose ultimate goal is to contribute towards rural development, economic growth and advancement for our people.
The achievement of this objective lays the foundation for progress and prosperity of our nation.
I previously had the pleasure and honour of interacting with the executive of the organisation, and in this regard I wish to give credit to your Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mahanjane, and the executive members who found it necessary and important to engage in mutual talks in the name of service delivery.
We may not have come out strong, in your view, in support of requests made at our meetings. But believe me, we are greatly committed to and serious about rendering effective service and fostering partnerships with you and other role-players. The provincial government, the local government and our department are continuously trying to find ways of making service delivery more effective, less bureaucratic and more accountable to you the client.
For this reason, we need to enter into serious partnerships with role-players and stakeholders and jointly work towards our goal. The importance of organisation and strong institutional development, especially among the disadvantaged themselves, is a prerequisite in order to take advantage of collective strength. The government alone can never hope to achieve all that needs to be done all by itself. This organisation, NERPO, could never have come at a better time.
I would like to turn to matters pertinent to red meat production, which I have no doubt, there is more interest in.
I am here today to offer you words of encouragement in the challenges that we are faced with. The challenges to be overcome by the small scale and emerging farmers en route to their entering the commercial farmers market include
* Practicing designed breeding programmes
* Adaptation of livestock to environment
* Creating mechanisms that make controlled grazing possible
* Ability to prevent and fight livestock deceases
* Improving profitability of small scale farmers
* Creating access to open markets
* Value adding opportunities
* Development of business management skills
The issue of lack of access to start-up finance to small and emerging farmers remains a major challenge.
Success in meeting all these challenges delivers many benefits. These include the growth of the agricultural sector contribution to South Africa's GDP, potential for earning more foreign revenue and the creation of jobs which in turn leads to improved quality of life.
The small and emerging farmers need to be mentored into playing the game by the rules. Here I foresee a major role played by the extension services by the respective Departments of Agriculture. There is no doubt that this suggests a vigorous approach in which the genetic programme is accompanied by improved management, animal health, marketing opportunities for the products and extension support with trained local people in our quest for capacity building.
As a province red meat production remains an important avenue for agricultural contribution to the economy, as more than 80% of our land is suitable for grazing.
The significance of this event should not be underestimated and understated. This event reflects the commitment of NERPO in creating opportunities for growth and development. Their programme is such that a farmer contributes two heifers and in turn NERPO acquires and provides a bull. This approach encourages an individual to make an effort and be initiative. "VUKEZENZELE". We must inculcate the culture of change, by taking responsibility for our survival and growth. A re tlogele gore Puso ga e ntirele sepe: wena o itirela eng. I, therefore applaud NERPO for showing its members how its members can contribute in developing themselves through this programme. It can be seen that this programme was designed with consideration to preserve the dignity of our people and maintaining decent standards of living without depending on handouts. This is a masterstroke.
The government has identified support for resource poor agriculture as a national priority. Our aim is to increase income and profitability of resource poor agriculture through livestock improvement. As a department we have a livestock improvement programme in place. This programme puts more emphasis on genetic material and marketing. We should note the importance of culling and marketing for the purpose of both veld improvement and profitability.
The project specifically targets emerging beef farmers in the North West Province with the main aim of empowering them to become self-sustaining by identifying new markets for their beef products. This will be addressed by equipping the project participants with knowledge and skills to practice and achieve continuous improvement of beef production.
I can therefore proudly say NERPO has proved that it is our true partner not only in livestock improvement but on other issues which include policy development.
Animal improvement is, therefore, the most important activity for both the Government and NERPO as partners in developing emergent red meat producers. And today, this occasion is intended to address needs for animal improvement.
This marks the end of dependency syndrome and the birth of Tsoga o itirele. This is a great challenge for the farmers and the farmer organisations, most of a lesson we need to learn from. The fact that NERPO has undertaken this extensive challenge bears testimony to their commitment to the development of their members. Let us emulate them.
I therefore call upon all agricultural organisations to play an active role in shaping the destiny of our emergent red meat producers. Allow me to recognize, thank and encourage for continuance:
* Mr Hennie Bezedenhoud - Bonsmara stud breeder
* Mr Balocco Ramanyola - stud breeder
* Mr Ephraim Majuda
* ARC for contributing land and training.
In conclusion, Programme Director, I urge staff of my department to recognise this project as a boost and use it well. You need to use it to create jobs and make a meaningful contribution to the economy. Allow me to use this opportunity to commend the NERPO executive and management in this venture to build a better life for all. As the Government and the Department we commit ourselves once again to active participation in your endeavours.
THANK YOU
PULA
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.org.za)
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