Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is using its preferential procurement to drive inclusive economic empowerment by government.
Delivering her Budget Vote Speech at the legislature on Thursday, MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said: “Through our preferential procurement, to date we have contracted 23 cooperatives to supply fresh produce, fresh vegetables and eggs to government institutions up to the 2015 financial year.
“This initiative is ensuring sustainable access to markets, food security and inclusive economic empowerment by government.”
The MEC said this excluded the seven co-ops who were disqualified for failing to comply with the requirements.
Mayathula-Khoza said agriculture, as one of the major contributors to the economy, has unleashed an avalanche of women influence, adding that this was also transforming male dominance within the sector.
“Women no longer belong in the kitchen, thanks to the African National Congress (ANC) transformative policies.
“Since inception, a total of 252 women farmers have emerged as award winners, receiving monetary incentives to further develop their successful agricultural businesses,” she said.
The MEC said the provincial government priority for 2013/14 was to ensure the sustainability of women-owned agricultural businesses.
With regards to attracting more young people to agriculture, the MEC said: “We will also introduce the Agri-Business Youth of the Year Awards in order to encourage more youth to be agricultural entrepreneurs that create employment for other unemployed youth and contribute to growing the economy.”
The MEC said in pursuit of achieving sustainable agrarian reform with thriving small and large farming sectors, the department had spent 100 percent of all allocated funds through the Letsema/Ilima, Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and LandCare during the year under review.
During this financial year, the department plans to start bigger agricultural development projects that will result in intensive employment creation.
These include the Sedibeng Buyisa Ubuntu food security co-operative on 6 200 hactares of land and the Nguni cattle project, working in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
The MEC also announced that during 2013/14, they will vaccinate no less than 10 000 animals, support and register 31 abattoirs as well as accelerate “export readiness” of the meat agri-businesses, thus attracting foreign income.
“In 2013/14, we commit to upscale vaccinations and primary animal health care to ensure prevention of animal disease outbreak in all our regions,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
