Seeds sown at agri indaba
The aim of the indaba was to encourage all stakeholders in the agricultural sector to engage in an open effective dialogue
Not only is agriculture a strong form of job creation, it can greatly improve the country’s economic growth.
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This point was made by several speakers at the South Coast 2018 Agricultural Indaba, organised by the South Coast Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which took place at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre last Thursday.
The well-attended, one-day indaba welcomed leaders in agriculture from around the province, with speakers and representatives from various sectors in business and agriculture in attendance.
A recurring theme among speakers was the importance of agriculture and its role in creating both formal and informal employment.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture, Themba Mthembu said the indaba was a platform to strengthen the local agriculture sector and identify investment and growth opportunities.
Mr Mthembu said the South Coast played a significant role in ensuring global food security and urged everyone to embrace innovation and sustainable agriculture practices.
“The Ugu District plays a vital role in the agriculture and tourism sectors. Macadamia nuts and sugarcane are among the best things to grow on the South Coast because of the good rainfall and fertile soil.
“I am confident the indaba will be a platform to further establish partnerships with investors and the public sector.”
The MEC acknowledged that the agri-sector had gone through a terrible drought in recent timess but pleaded with farmers to remain positive as there was R50-billion set aside for stimulus packages in the agri-sector which would, in turn, help boost the economy.
South Coast Chamber of Commerce president, Vijay Naidoo said the aim of the indaba was to encourage all stakeholders in the agricultural sector to engage in an open effective dialogue, to promote interaction with other sectors of the economy and to expose the sector to new opportunities.
Other issues discussed included access to information often not available, land distribution, land claims and job creation.
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