Deputy Minister of Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) in partnership with Executive Mayors of Mogale City and the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) joined hands in the activation of Mogale City Agri-Park and handing over of complete projects.
Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa and Executive Mayors Danny Thupane and Thabiso Bovungana handed over the Tarlton Agri-Park and completed projects to 16 identified members of the Farmer Production Support Unit (FSPU), at a ceremony held at the Vlakdrift Plot 4, in Tarlton, early this month.
The Tarlton FSPU is the second Agri-Park in Mogale City to be launched and handed over to the FSPU, following unveiling of the Camel Estate FSPU in Magaliesburg few years ago. The DALRRD has spent R39 million for Tarlton FSPU and yielded more than 62 temporary jobs created during the construction process.
The Agri-parks are aimed at enhancing food security, agricultural productivity and competitiveness by exploiting the complete agricultural value chain of identified commodities within the parameters of ensuring sustainable use of the natural resources.
Agri-parks have been identified as the vehicle that will kick-start rural economic transformation and resources, including markets for the sale of produce, livestock, skills and infrastructure.
Deputy Minister Capa encouraged farmers and cooperatives to work to together in sustaining the project and enhancing food security among the residents of Mogale City and the entire West Rand.
“I am very much pleased to be part of this project and I want to implore upon our farmers, emerging farmers and small, medium-sized producers and cooperatives to work together in sustaining this project. More so, in making sure that the community of Mogale City and the entire West Rand can benefit from this project,” Deputy Minister said.
“I must say that since we started this programme [Agri-Parks], there have been a lot of encouraging developments. Over the next 10 years, the country will have a different rural community, one which will have some enterprises and industries. The two Agri-Parks [Tarlton and Camel Estate] will also provide us with the opportunity to invest in the underdeveloped side of the economy,” she concluded.
Executive Mayor Thupane applauded the DALRRD and informed the Deputy Minister that the project is in capable and good hands of FSPU’s.
“We are grateful as Mogale City that the department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development continues to extend its hand of assistance to farmers and emerging farmers in Mogale City. This is the second Agri-Park we are launching today following the Camel Estate one.
“We appeal to our formers who will the owners of this facility to look after it and make sure that we increase the value chain emerging from this facility. This is a good investment, and we hope that the sixteen identified members of the Farmer Production Support Unit are looking forward to working hard and sustain this project to address the triple challenges of poverty, joblessness and inequality,” Thupane said.
Bovungana added his voice and supported the project. He also stressed continuous engagements with the national departments for the betterment of the West Rand.
Also in attendance was the WRDM Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Re-Industrialisation Sivuyile Boyce, MMC Nyakallo Segapela and Rand West Local Municipality MMC for Waste and Environment Nozipho Mapena.
Sipho None
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