Remarks by the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Lulama Xingwana during the launch of the National Structure of Yard Entrepreneurship Network Forum

Youth Summit on Agrarian and Land Reform

Programme Director,
President of Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (Ward),
Deputy Directors-General, present this evening,
Representatives from Umsobomvu Youth Fund,
Representatives from National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC),
Representatives of the National Youth Commission,
Representatives from the Land Bank,
Departmental officials,
The guests of honour,
Our youth,
Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening

My duty tonight is to launch the National Structure of Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (Yard) Entrepreneurship Networking Forum. But before I do that allow me to make a few comments.

Last night during the official opening of the Summit, I certainly welcomed a fewer number of your colleagues. Tonight I am encouraged to note that this number has tremendously increased. This is very good indeed and only shows that you are ready to take on 'A thousand opportunities' available in Agriculture as professed by the theme of three day Youth Summit.

I learnt from our officials that last night you had logistic problems in respect of your accommodation and transport leading to some of you affected by this unfortunate circumstance having to go to bed very late. On that score I wish to take this opportunity to apologise for this shorting coming. I also want to commend you for having taken the courage to attend today's session regardless of how late you slept. I take this opportunity to assure you that planning for the next gathering will commence immediately ensuring that the logistics and arrangements of the 19 June 2008 Youth Summit run smoothly.

Your presence here carries the hopes of many who were not able to join us during the Summit and this was evidence when you attentively listened to speaker after speaker presenting their various papers to you.

During the presentations you became aware that before you can become involved in agriculture you needed land. You now know that before you attain that land you need finance and you also now know where to get that finance.

During your interactions in the different commissions you also became aware which career paths you can follow as offered by the Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs, the Land Bank and other institution represented here tonight.

This evening I would like to reiterate some of the objectives of the Yard Entrepreneurship Networking Forum as alluded to you this morning by the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Derrick du Toit, which are to:

* promote and develop excellence in Agriculture among you our youth and to create an awareness of the need to improve agricultural productions in order to ensure food security and economic stability of the country,
* exchange information on the best practices in community and rural development initiatives led by you our youth,
* connect young community leaders across the country to enhance their leadership, entrepreneurship and community development skills,
* build a foundation for a knowledgeable and inclusive national network of young rural leaders,
* seek development solutions that are sustainable for rural youth villages and communities,
* promote economic equity for you and increase awareness about the negative impact of globalisation on you, your families, communities and the environment,
* advocate for equal participation and representation in decision making in agriculture and rural development.

I now declare the interim National Structure of Yard Entrepreneurial Networking Forum officially launched today and that the following people will represent your provinces:

Vincent Dlamini, KwaZulu-Natal
Nomawethu Ntantala-Kentane, Eastern Cape
Phumzile Mkontwana, Northern Cape
Nkwe Metswamee, North West
Mokete Khambule, Free State
Monde Moses, Gauteng
Simon Skafu, Western Cape
Bongani Sibeko, Mpumalanga
Ndivhuho Phungo, Limpopo

As I say in the Ministry Gijimani, time is against us. Let us realise the thousand opportunities fast!

Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs
3 August 2007