By BONOLO MOHLOKOANA
Agriculture is one of the key drivers of the economy in the North West as it contributes 2.9 % to the GDP in the provincial economy. The province is also the third largest producer of maize and this translates into 17% of maize produced in South Africa.
While the province is leading the pack in terms of poultry production as well as vegetable produce such as beetroot and onions, it is trailing behind in terms of agro-processing.
However, the North West Premier, Bushy Kaobitsa Maape said this needs to change.
“We need to build partnerships with established and emerging farmers, but critically, we need to prioritise investments on agricultural infrastructure and facilities. Moreover, we need to put more emphasis on mentorship and training for emerging farmers.
“This will go a long way in accelerating transformation in the sector through expanding our production but most vitally prioritizing access to markets. Government is looking at capitalising on the provincial and district corridors to lure investments into the province,” Maape said.
He said among others, this will be carried out through the Accelerated Service Delivery Plan (ASDP) to respond to challenges such as water provision and road infrastructure. Maape further said the plan is to assist them in creating a tangible environment for business to thrive in the province.
“We are busy patching potholes and resurfacing our roads, so that our produce can move with ease from one point to the other. This model is being implemented across the province,” he said.
Meanwhile, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono said: “A turn-around strategy has been developed to enhance performance of the agricultural sector in the province. One of the pillars is aggregation which is a market access model where investment is made on infrastructure and facilities to accelerate sustainable access to markets for emerging farmers.
“This includes the investments on priority value chains which are able to enhance performance of multiple producers within a specific geographic location. The meeting with farmers forms part of on-going efforts by the government to resuscitate and grow the sector, while creating opportunities for new entrants to participate actively in the provincial economy.”
(Edited by: Obakeng Maje)
The Guardian 