NERPO'S 7TH AGM TRIUMPHS SUSTAINABILITY OF THE EMERGING SECTOR
17 Sep 2004
Standing at over 37 000 farmers that were mobilized through the organisation’s database project, the organization continues to draw maximum and meaningful interventions from government, development agencies, donors and role players in the red meat producers value chain to create an enabling environment for the emerging farmers to practice sustainable and profitable farming.
Its concerted effort was reaffirmed by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs who congratulated NERPO for "driving a programme that has reflected true representation of the historically disadvantaged farming communities, and helping shape a new but informed direction in addressing the needs of the agricultural sector to ensure its sustainability and viability"
Subsequent to NERPO's rigorous approach that has drawn intensive interventions by government on policy frameworks with high potential to unlock bottlenecks on profitability and viability of the emerging sector. The unveiling of the AgriBEE and introduction of the Communal Land Rights Act (Act. No.11 of 2004) bares testimony to NERPO recommitment of repositioning the sector to sustainable levels.
The AGM has resolved that,
1) While the organisatrion congratulates the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Ms Thoko Didiza for unveiling the AgriBEE policy framework in July this year.
It recommits to drive a bid for a realistic and speedy implementation plan of the AgriBEE policy framework that will advance viability and profitability of the emerging sector e.g. an establishment of the funding for a minimal grant that will serve as a start-up capital for Black Economic Empowerment
Companies
2) NERPO supports the Communal Land Rights Act (Act. No.11 of 2004) passed by the National Legislature recently.
"We hope that this Act will bring in a new order and strengthen management and administration of the communal land creating an enabling environment to farm profitable in the rural areas of the country" said Mr. Mahanjana Group Managing Director: NERPO.
NERPO further requests the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs to speed up the establishment of the regulatory framework will support the Act in terms of its enforcement in order to improve the management of communal grazing land and livestock management.
3) The Organisation calls upon the National Ministers of Safety and Security, Justice, Agriculture and Land Affairs, to act rigorously against stock theft, given its negative impact in the red meat industry.
4) The Organisation still supports the LRAD programme but calls upon the National Ministers of Agriculture and Land Affairs and Finance to seriously look at its implementation and funding as it is delaying the land reform process. The programme should be freed from government's beaucray rade tape.
In strengthen of its bussiness arm from the Black Economic Empwoerment premise the organisation has officialy launched two new susidiary companies
To evidence NERPO’s recommitment to the black economic empowerment in agriculture and strengthening of its economic viability, the organization has revitalized its business arm as it is to launch two new subsidiary companies, namely NERPO Animal Feeds (Pty) Ltd and Elangeni Animal Health (Pty) Ltd. During the launch of NERPO Animal Feeds, emerging farmers, government, development agencies witnees the unveiling of the unique and first ever produced animal feed within the SADC region, a product that has a high potential of wiping out problems relating to environmental congestion bush encroachement and land shortages in South Africa. The launch is a true reflection of NERPO’s long term goal of ensuring economic empowerment of members, youth and women through the creation of business opportunities within the supply chain of the red meat industry.
In the endless list of the political entourage who graced this event was Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Ms Thoko Didiza, Father Smangaliso Mkhathwa the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane and the Chairperson of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), MECs for Agriculture for Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal Ms Mtshweni and Prof Ndabdandaba respectively, the Chief Land Claims Commissiner Mr. Tozi Gwanya. Development agencies, local and international donors were also present were also present at this event.
|
|
|
