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21 June 2008

Programme director
MEC for Agriculture in the Western Cape Province, Cobus Dowry
President of Women in Agriculture and Rural Development, Umama Molo
Director General of the Department of Land Affairs, Mr Thozi Gwanya
National convener of YARD, Ms Sindiswa Mzamo
Chairperson of the National Youth Commission, Ms Nomi Nkondlo
Our youth from all the provinces of our country
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.

It is for me a great honour and privilege to address this august house on the occasion of the launch of the national structure of Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (YARD). This is an initiative by the Ministry for Agriculture and Land Affairs to involve our youth in the agricultural sector and rural development programmes.

Similarly, YARD seeks to cultivate a culture of information sharing, developing excellence and raising awareness about the positive contribution our youth can make in ensuring optimal and sustainable use of the land, food security and socio economic advancement.

This launch today can best be summed up as an active participation in democratic processes by the youth of our country to speeding up the progress South Africa has made since we achieved our freedom. The unveiling of YARD further entrenches democracy and its values as enshrined in our Constitution as well as pushing the boundaries of progress achieved in the 14 years of democracy.

The inauguration of YARD could not have come at a more suitable time as the month of June which is recognised in South Africa as youth month, where youth development is put in the forefront.

Programme Director, many of you will recall that each year, on June 16, South Africa commemorates the anniversary of the Soweto uprising and connected uprisings, recalling the sacrifices the youth made in the struggle for freedom.

As South Africans we remember and celebrate the efforts of the youth of our country in our struggle for liberation and a better life for all. We celebrate the role our youth are playing in the development of the country; in contributing actively to the reconstruction and development of their communities, while not forgetting the memories of the struggles and sacrifices of the youth on 16 June 1976.

The opportunities brought by democracy since 1994 require our youth to work in partnership with government and society in order to improve the social, political and economic conditions of young people who still live in poverty.

It is also interesting to note that many of the youth of 1976 have become successful professionals who have seized the opportunities and are now role models in government, business and industry. While millions benefit from youth development programmes such as YARD, many still face the challenges of unemployment, lack of skills and limited opportunities.

According to an article in the Nafu Farmer of August 2007, the young people of today are tomorrow's leaders. Unfortunately agriculture has become the last option when our youth make career choices. There seems to be a perception among the youth that if there is no farm in the family, agriculture is not to be considered as a career.

The article further states that "Agricultural awareness, training and education are not adequately addressed in primary or secondary school curricula. The inadequacies of Mathematics and Science in schools for black students, have minimised these students opportunities for acceptance into tertiary agricultural programmes. It is at this level that children should be made aware of careers in
agriculture and that agriculture is a career option worth investing".

It is for this reason that the Department of Agriculture has commissioned a study to investigate the best possible mechanisms to transform colleges of agriculture into National Agricultural Training Institutes and to position these institutions as centres of excellence in terms of various agro-ecological zones and centres for rural wealth creation.

This is another attempt to ensure an integrated approach to youth development in the country because our main challenge is around reducing poverty and unemployment. On the other hand the Department of Land Affairs will in collaboration with various stakeholders develop formalised incubation programmes
for youth beneficiaries that will respond to specific project needs and ensure long term sustainability of the project. Included in the incubation package will be clear performance indicators, clear remedial, retention and exit strategies; skills development programmes, financial, infrastructural and technology support, mentorship programme and networking support.

The launch of YARD takes place at the time when food prices have been increasing relentlessly owing to a combination of factors, including increased demand from fast growing countries such as China and India, rising production costs such as the price of fuel, shrinking resources such as the availability of land and water, and sharply increased speculative trading of all globally traded commodities.

South Africa has also been affected by the soaring food prices, although our food prices have not increased at the same pace as in many countries worldwide. So serious is the situation that a high level

conference on World Food Security; the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy, was held at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome from the 3rd to 5th June 2008.

At the end of the conference the heads of state and ministers responsible for Agriculture from various countries resolved to use all means to alleviate the suffering caused by the current crisis, to stimulate food production and to increase investment in agriculture, to address obstacles to food access and to use the planet's resources sustainably for present and future generations.

It is befitting therefore that the launch of YARD today is part of an effort on the side of South Africa to answer some of the resolutions of FAO conference and thereby commit to eliminating hunger and to securing food for all our people. Let the spirit of the youth of 1976 expressed in the struggle for freedom be harnessed in fighting hunger and food security.

This year, youth month is being celebrated primarily against the backdrop of the recent attacks on foreign nationals that live in our country. These attacks are a threat to our historical achievements as a nation. We cannot forget the hospitality that was given to South Africans, especially our youth who were in exile in the neighbouring countries and the rest of the continent during the days of apartheid.
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As we celebrate youth month we call on all youth organisations to ensure that all people in South Africa, including foreign nationals, are protected from any form of violence and are encouraged to actively oppose any violence and to report any such acts to relevant authorities.

In the same breath, we encourage our youth to use every available opportunity to educate South Africans about the need to co exist with foreign nationals. This includes improving refugee's access to fundamental rights, enhancing refugees means of self reliance and expanding opportunities for durable solutions.

May I also take this opportunity to say that the National Youth Commission, Umsobomvu Youth Fund and the South African Youth Council will continue working together to realise the holistic youth development approach. These efforts should be enhanced by our government through the adoption of an Integrated Youth
Development Strategy for the meaningful realisation of the role of our youth in our country's 2014 vision.

In conclusion, I want to emphasise that young men and women are the future of this country and we should invest in their development especially in the agrarian sector because this is an area that has not
been properly marketed to the youth so that they could be aware of the career opportunities in this sector. The establishment of YARD will go a long way towards ensuring effective mobilisation of the youth around participation in agricultural programmes.

Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen I now declare the national structure of Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development officially launched. Before I sit down let me introduce to you the chairpersons of the provincial structures of YARD.

Thank you.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs
21 June 2008
Source: Department of Land Affairs (http://land.pwv.gov.za/home.htm)