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Opening of Region 21 Woolgrowers Association
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Agriculture

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SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE MEC FOR AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFFAIRS MR MAX MAMASE AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF REGION 21 WOOLGROWERS ASSOCIATION 
HELD AT MPOFU TRAINING CENTRE ON THE 14TH JULY 1999.



Small stock farmers and
 the general farming community present here today,
 Distinguished guests,
 Ladies and gentlemen


Let me express my sincere gratitude to the farmers of this region for having invited me to officially open this important conference. I had 
to leave a very important workshop of the department held that is discussing a comprehensive delivery strategy of this department for the 
next coming five years.

I hope officials will come out of that workshop explicitly clear of what is expected from them in their attempts to ensure that our policy 
pronouncements are realised.

Chairperson, our province has the highest annual wool production capacity in the country and this makes us the third country that produces 
quality wool in the whole world. 75% of South Africa’s wool is exported through the Eastern Cape harbours.

We provide 14,5 million kg’s of raw wool to the value of R200 000 million per annum with more than 5 000 farmers making a living out of 
wool farming.

This means that approximately 50 000 people (farmers and farm workers) depend on this industry for their livelihood.

Chairperson, these are positive statistics that should make a great impact to the economic growth of this province.

What impact does this industry has in changing the lives of the previously disadvantaged farmers? This is the question that every farmer I 
think is asking.

Chairperson, farmers especially in the former Transkei and Ciskei have the highest number of small-stock (sheep and goats) but the irony is 
that the official highest wool production is from the Karoo region. Something must be wrong.

The department must ensure that all farmers interested in wool production are given an opportunity to do so through the provision of 
infrastructure. It is this firm belief that has led us together with the Presidential Project Team ensure that we erect shearing sheds 
especially in the former Transkei.. We are going to continue doing that despite the budgetary constraints that the department is faced 
with.

Institutions like Mpofu Training Centre, Dohne and Grootfontein must assist in training you in order ensure that in the near future we 
broaden the scope of our wool producers in the province.

Chairperson, let me agree that there are factors that continue to undermine our gallant efforts to undermine to broaden the scope of wool 
production. Stock theft and crime are our worst enemies and cannot be tolerated.

Lastly chairperson, let me congratulate the farmers of this region for having organised themselves into a powerful Wool Growers Assosiation 
so that they can approach their problems as a united force. I appeal to you farmers to ensure that you produce quality wool that can be in 
a position to enter the competitive domestic and international markets.

We need foreign currency to strengthen our economy and your contribution in this regard will go a long way in changing the face of our 
Provincial economy.

This is not an easy task, but we can do it.

It is a privilege and an honour for me to declare this region 21 Wool Growers Association conference officially open.

I Thank You !!!

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