16 July 2008
A wide range of stakeholders from the Northern Cape's land and agrarian sector, farm workers and farm dwellers are expected to descend on Upington for the two-day Farm Workers Summit and Agriculture Consultation Workshop, 17-18 July 2008. The Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Lulu Xingwana, Premier Dipuo Peters and MEC for Agriculture and Land Reform Tina Joemat-Pettersson are to officiate.
The Farm Workers' Summit commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Potato Boycott which drew attention to the harsh conditions under which farm labourers worked and lived on potato farms near Bethal in Mpumalanga. The farm labour exposé sparked a countrywide boycott of potatoes, leading up to a range of continued uprisings that culminated in the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960.
Participants at the Summit would be engaged in a dialogue seeking to recommend intervention measures aimed at improving the quality of life of farm workers and farm dwellers and mechanisms for the channeling of issues affecting them. The theme for the summit is; "Improving the quality of life of farm workers, dwellers and their children"
On the other hand, the Agri-Consultation Workshop which will be running concurrently with the Farm Workers' Summit would be based on addressing challenges facing agriculture today and recommend sustainable solutions. Its expected outcomes include;
a review of the provincial action plans, including successes and challenges; resources and strengths that are available in the province;
Arrive at a consensus of concerns, proposals of solutions that should be carried forward by the province to the national summit;
An outline of key strategies for the sector in the province that are sustainable, practical and make economic sense; and
Review the Agriculture White Paper and Sector Plan and provide recommendations.
The theme for the Agri-Consultation Workshop is; "War on poverty: towards sustainable food security, job and wealth creation through Agriculture"
Members of the media are cordially invited to these activities. Full details for the activities are as follows:
Date: 17-18 July 2008
Venue: Upington FET College (Upington)
Time: 09h00
Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi - 083 255 8840/053 838 9105 (Head of Strategic Communication - Department of Agriculture and Land Reform)
Ms. Nonceba Mdibe (Media Liaison Officer - Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform)