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His Excellency the President
Members of the Executive Councils
Mr Lucas Rautenbach
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today we meet here to celebrate the achievements of our newly attained democracy. The Ministry of Agriculture has been involved in a process of redefining its role and relationship with civil society. Through this process we identified the need for restructuring the agricultural sector to enable it further contribute to the economic growth of this country as well as building stability in rural communities.

Agriculture is a major economic activity for majority of African rural people. The extent to which a government can intervene in this sector has in the past impacted on its development.

These past policies shaped the current farming structure and the investment owned. We therefore need to bring in new policies that can redirect the sector to be self reliant and be demand driven. The role of the Government therefore is to facilitate and support. Facilitation therefore means bringing together resources from the public and the private sector to resolve in addressing the backlog of the past. We as a Department wish to thank Massey Ferguson for their participation in this programme of building partnerships. It is our hope that the beneficiaries will mobilise themselves to realise their dream of having self-sustainable agricultural development.

The Government, through its agricultural extension service, as well as financing, will support the activities of the farming communities that have benefited fromthis partnership.

It is our hope that Massey Ferguson as it has committed itself, will continue providing the necessary support services.

Enquiries: Brian Sokutu (Deputy Ministry Spokesman)
Tel: (021) 461-0860

Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture

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