Date: 10/09/2003
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Thibedi: Farmers' Day, North West Province
SPEECH BY THE ACTING PREMIER OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE, THE HONOURABLE JERRY THIBEDI, MEC FOR ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS, ON FARMERS' DAY, TWYFELHOEK, SLURRY, 10 September 2003
Master of Ceremony
Guest Speakers: Dr. Jasper Coetzee, Dr. Daan Opperman, Dr. Pierre van Rooyen
Government and Officials from Botswana
Leaders of Agricultural Unions
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me a great pleasure and honour today to address this important occasion of the farming community, or more appropriately, the "Food Providing Community". The importance of good working relations between the farming community and the government cannot be overemphasised given that our common goal is to push back the frontiers of poverty. In this regard, Master of Ceremony, I should thank the organizers of this event, especially Mr. Hannes du Preez for making an effort to reach to our black emerging farmers with the intention to support them.
According to the Strategic Plan for South African Agriculture, primary agriculture, which consists of production within the boundaries of the farm gate, accounts for less than 5% of the GDP of South Africa. The agro-food complex, which consists of primary production plus the input of agro-processing sectors, accounts for about 14% of the GDP. There are approximately 50 000 large-scale commercial farmers who are predominantly, but not exclusively, drawn from the white population. In 2000 they exported about R16 billion worth of products, or nearly 10% of South Africa's total exports. They employ about 1 million workers, which is 11% of total formal sector employment in the country. Many of these workers live on commercial farms and their children receive education in farm schools. Thus commercial farms provide livelihoods and housing to about 6 million family members of these 1 million employees and provided for their education needs.
It goes further to indicate that there are also 240 000 small farmers who provide a livelihood to more than 1 million of their family members, and occasional employment to another 500 000 people. These farmers supply local and regional markets where large numbers of informal traders make a living. Furthermore, an estimated 3 million household farmers who are located mainly in the communal areas of the former homelands, produce largely to meet part of their family's total needs. Finally, almost all the productive and social activities of rural towns and service centres are dependent on primary agriculture and related activities. This includes increasingly popular and economically significant agro-tourism and game-farming activities. More than half of the provinces and about 40% of the country's total population are therefore dependent mainly on agriculture and related industries.
The above information reflects the indispensable role the farming community plays in our economy and the need for them to play a role in the reconstruction of our country. We are indeed appreciative of the efforts of many farmers, particularly in our province, who continued to work closely with government to ensure that the lives of our people are improved, particularly farm workers. This information sharing session will go a long way in benefiting our black emerging farmers to also elevate their capacity to deliver and we therefore wish to thank drs. Coetzee, Opperman and van Rooyen for sharing their knowledge with us.
Master of Ceremony, we note with appreciation that most white farmers in our province have dedicated their time and effort to register their workers and pay them the minimum wage stipulated by the Department of Labour. Other farmers have even gone an extra mile by providing their employees with farming land to start their own farming activities. We applaud those farmers because they have taken heed of the call by our government to work together in the Letsema programme (helpmekaar). We wish to invite other white farmers who have not yet contributed to follow the example of their counterparts and give back to their country.
The Strategic Plan for South African Agriculture also reflects that South African commercial agriculture has followed a more capital-intensive growth path, while significant agricultural resources (human and material) lie unused or under-utilised in the former homeland areas. Both these phenomena have affected the income-earning potential of rural people. Further, the entrepreneurial abilities of black farmers were suppressed, first by their exclusion from the commercial land market and then because commercially viable freehold farming was almost impossible in the former homeland areas. Employment opportunities in commercial agriculture were and still are largely limited to unskilled workers earning low wages, and a large share of total employment in commercial agriculture is of a seasonal and temporary nature only. Furthermore, this growth path has meant that upstream (input firms) and downstream (processors of food and fibre) industries relating to agriculture were stunted, therefore depriving rural people of economic opportunities.
These factors were largely responsible for creating the extreme dualism and inequality in agriculture. This dualism has created a polarisation of "us" and "them" among participants and has resulted in an approach to policymaking and service delivery that focuses on two agricultures rather than a single unified sector one for commercial farmers and one for so-called "emerging farmers". There is therefore a complete lack of a common ("us/we/our") vision and understanding in agriculture and little sense of togetherness and belonging. Our government, through policymaking, seeks to end this divisive and harmful approach.
I would like to refer to President Thabo Mbeki's speech when he recently addressed the Afrikaanse Handelsintituut. He said " ... the economic history of the Afrikaners remains one of the most illustrious and enduring whose lessons are important for all of us in this country. Of particular importance is the manner in which the challenge of the poor white Afrikaners was dealt with. As, we know, almost all the Afrikaners institutions, which include among others, the Dutch Reformed Church, professional bodies like Die Onderwysersunie, this very body, the Afrikaanse Handelinstituut as well as the political formations focused largely in eradicating poverty among the Afrikaners and empowering the Afrikaans-speaking people so as to overcome the economic dominance of the English.
This history tells us that without strong economic development of a people, political emancipation can get compromised. Faced with the challenge of the poor white Afrikaner it was necessary to ensure that there existed commercial enterprises that were not hostile to the needs of these people, but which had to be partners in pushing back the frontiers of poverty among the Afrikaners. Accordingly, banks, enterprises such as the railways, and other businesses as well as state departments and state enterprises were mobilized to achieve this objective.
Appropriating the historical concept of "helpmekaar", wealthier Afrikaners, especially the Cape wine farmers, pooled their resources and together with the mobilization of the savings of poor Afrikaners. in the main, made economic intervention to assist poor Afrikaners". In the same vain, we call for white commercial farmers in the province to extend their helping hand to our poor emerging black farmers by providing necessary support and guidance to them. Let us use the very same spirit of "helpmekaar" to work together with emerging black farmers, share your knowledge and skills to make them equally successful. It is only in working together that we can achieve a better future where there wont be a need to evict farm workers, kill farmers, steal property or grab land from present owners. The same cooperation should also be extended to our neighbouring farmers in Botswana who I believe will make a meaningful input in the development of our farmers given their long history of success in the farming industry.
We also wish to urge our emerging black farmers to cooperate with white commercial farmers by being available to learn. They must show dedication and support to the partnership between white farmers and black farmers. We encourage both black and white farmers to work together with government to fight farm killings, evictions, ill treatment of farm workers and the general flouting of the rule of law.
Master of Ceremony, let me conclude by refer again to the President's speech, "Today our whole country is faced with the challenge of poor black South Africans. This is the single biggest challenge facing our country. When we talk about change, about transformation, we are in effect referring to the need to create conditions that would ensure that we eradicate poverty among these poor black South Africans in the same way that poverty was defeated among poor white Afrikaners ".
I wish to reiterate this challenge to you and hope that you will readily accept the challenge. We hope that the celebration of this day (Farmers' Day) will go a long in encouraging the working together between farmers and the government guided by the spirit of helpmekaar. We once more thank you for your contribution towards the building of our democracy and your loyalty towards the government. We appreciate the fact that many of the white farming community condemned the operations of the boeremag and have reiterated their support for a democratic South Africa.
Let this day mark the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership in our quest to achieve a better life for all.
Thank you.
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)
Source: North West Provincial Government
Title: Thibedi: Farmers' Day, North West Province
SPEECH BY THE ACTING PREMIER OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE, THE HONOURABLE JERRY THIBEDI, MEC FOR ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS, ON FARMERS' DAY, TWYFELHOEK, SLURRY, 10 September 2003
Master of Ceremony
Guest Speakers: Dr. Jasper Coetzee, Dr. Daan Opperman, Dr. Pierre van Rooyen
Government and Officials from Botswana
Leaders of Agricultural Unions
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me a great pleasure and honour today to address this important occasion of the farming community, or more appropriately, the "Food Providing Community". The importance of good working relations between the farming community and the government cannot be overemphasised given that our common goal is to push back the frontiers of poverty. In this regard, Master of Ceremony, I should thank the organizers of this event, especially Mr. Hannes du Preez for making an effort to reach to our black emerging farmers with the intention to support them.
According to the Strategic Plan for South African Agriculture, primary agriculture, which consists of production within the boundaries of the farm gate, accounts for less than 5% of the GDP of South Africa. The agro-food complex, which consists of primary production plus the input of agro-processing sectors, accounts for about 14% of the GDP. There are approximately 50 000 large-scale commercial farmers who are predominantly, but not exclusively, drawn from the white population. In 2000 they exported about R16 billion worth of products, or nearly 10% of South Africa's total exports. They employ about 1 million workers, which is 11% of total formal sector employment in the country. Many of these workers live on commercial farms and their children receive education in farm schools. Thus commercial farms provide livelihoods and housing to about 6 million family members of these 1 million employees and provided for their education needs.
It goes further to indicate that there are also 240 000 small farmers who provide a livelihood to more than 1 million of their family members, and occasional employment to another 500 000 people. These farmers supply local and regional markets where large numbers of informal traders make a living. Furthermore, an estimated 3 million household farmers who are located mainly in the communal areas of the former homelands, produce largely to meet part of their family's total needs. Finally, almost all the productive and social activities of rural towns and service centres are dependent on primary agriculture and related activities. This includes increasingly popular and economically significant agro-tourism and game-farming activities. More than half of the provinces and about 40% of the country's total population are therefore dependent mainly on agriculture and related industries.
The above information reflects the indispensable role the farming community plays in our economy and the need for them to play a role in the reconstruction of our country. We are indeed appreciative of the efforts of many farmers, particularly in our province, who continued to work closely with government to ensure that the lives of our people are improved, particularly farm workers. This information sharing session will go a long way in benefiting our black emerging farmers to also elevate their capacity to deliver and we therefore wish to thank drs. Coetzee, Opperman and van Rooyen for sharing their knowledge with us.
Master of Ceremony, we note with appreciation that most white farmers in our province have dedicated their time and effort to register their workers and pay them the minimum wage stipulated by the Department of Labour. Other farmers have even gone an extra mile by providing their employees with farming land to start their own farming activities. We applaud those farmers because they have taken heed of the call by our government to work together in the Letsema programme (helpmekaar). We wish to invite other white farmers who have not yet contributed to follow the example of their counterparts and give back to their country.
The Strategic Plan for South African Agriculture also reflects that South African commercial agriculture has followed a more capital-intensive growth path, while significant agricultural resources (human and material) lie unused or under-utilised in the former homeland areas. Both these phenomena have affected the income-earning potential of rural people. Further, the entrepreneurial abilities of black farmers were suppressed, first by their exclusion from the commercial land market and then because commercially viable freehold farming was almost impossible in the former homeland areas. Employment opportunities in commercial agriculture were and still are largely limited to unskilled workers earning low wages, and a large share of total employment in commercial agriculture is of a seasonal and temporary nature only. Furthermore, this growth path has meant that upstream (input firms) and downstream (processors of food and fibre) industries relating to agriculture were stunted, therefore depriving rural people of economic opportunities.
These factors were largely responsible for creating the extreme dualism and inequality in agriculture. This dualism has created a polarisation of "us" and "them" among participants and has resulted in an approach to policymaking and service delivery that focuses on two agricultures rather than a single unified sector one for commercial farmers and one for so-called "emerging farmers". There is therefore a complete lack of a common ("us/we/our") vision and understanding in agriculture and little sense of togetherness and belonging. Our government, through policymaking, seeks to end this divisive and harmful approach.
I would like to refer to President Thabo Mbeki's speech when he recently addressed the Afrikaanse Handelsintituut. He said " ... the economic history of the Afrikaners remains one of the most illustrious and enduring whose lessons are important for all of us in this country. Of particular importance is the manner in which the challenge of the poor white Afrikaners was dealt with. As, we know, almost all the Afrikaners institutions, which include among others, the Dutch Reformed Church, professional bodies like Die Onderwysersunie, this very body, the Afrikaanse Handelinstituut as well as the political formations focused largely in eradicating poverty among the Afrikaners and empowering the Afrikaans-speaking people so as to overcome the economic dominance of the English.
This history tells us that without strong economic development of a people, political emancipation can get compromised. Faced with the challenge of the poor white Afrikaner it was necessary to ensure that there existed commercial enterprises that were not hostile to the needs of these people, but which had to be partners in pushing back the frontiers of poverty among the Afrikaners. Accordingly, banks, enterprises such as the railways, and other businesses as well as state departments and state enterprises were mobilized to achieve this objective.
Appropriating the historical concept of "helpmekaar", wealthier Afrikaners, especially the Cape wine farmers, pooled their resources and together with the mobilization of the savings of poor Afrikaners. in the main, made economic intervention to assist poor Afrikaners". In the same vain, we call for white commercial farmers in the province to extend their helping hand to our poor emerging black farmers by providing necessary support and guidance to them. Let us use the very same spirit of "helpmekaar" to work together with emerging black farmers, share your knowledge and skills to make them equally successful. It is only in working together that we can achieve a better future where there wont be a need to evict farm workers, kill farmers, steal property or grab land from present owners. The same cooperation should also be extended to our neighbouring farmers in Botswana who I believe will make a meaningful input in the development of our farmers given their long history of success in the farming industry.
We also wish to urge our emerging black farmers to cooperate with white commercial farmers by being available to learn. They must show dedication and support to the partnership between white farmers and black farmers. We encourage both black and white farmers to work together with government to fight farm killings, evictions, ill treatment of farm workers and the general flouting of the rule of law.
Master of Ceremony, let me conclude by refer again to the President's speech, "Today our whole country is faced with the challenge of poor black South Africans. This is the single biggest challenge facing our country. When we talk about change, about transformation, we are in effect referring to the need to create conditions that would ensure that we eradicate poverty among these poor black South Africans in the same way that poverty was defeated among poor white Afrikaners ".
I wish to reiterate this challenge to you and hope that you will readily accept the challenge. We hope that the celebration of this day (Farmers' Day) will go a long in encouraging the working together between farmers and the government guided by the spirit of helpmekaar. We once more thank you for your contribution towards the building of our democracy and your loyalty towards the government. We appreciate the fact that many of the white farming community condemned the operations of the boeremag and have reiterated their support for a democratic South Africa.
Let this day mark the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership in our quest to achieve a better life for all.
Thank you.
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)
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