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Inauguration of board of Directors for Farmer Support Centres
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Agriculture

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 SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE MEC FOR AGRICULTURE AND LAND AFFAIRS, MR. MAX MAMASE,  AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR FARMER 
SUPPORT CENTRES IN THE EASTERN REGION.



Chairperson,
 Presidential Project Team members present here today,
 The new Farmer Support Centre Board members,
 Distinguished guests,
 Ladies and Gentlemen

As we continue to develop a viable small-scale commercial farming sector from the previously disadvantaged areas of our Province as part of 
our strategy to revitalise agriculture and address rural poverty, we need an effective Farmer Support Service and Training programme.

Majority of the rural people are associated to agriculture but due to poor infrastructure, lack of means of production, limited market 
opportunities, lack of research backup and effective social and commercial organisations, these farmers have not made full use of the 
agricultural potential which is available.

It is my honest belief chairperson, that a meaningful growth in the agricultural sector of this province cannot be achieved unless there is 
visible development of the agricultural potential of the previously marginalised areas like the former Transkei and Ciskei.

In the absence of reliable statistics on the current production, it is estimated that the current value of subsistence production consumed 
locally by subsistence farmers is about R500 million per annum or nearly 27% of the Gross Geographic Product for Agriculture.

Chairperson, this indicates potential for growth in the small scale-farming sector which needs to be developed to its full potential, 
operating as small business ventures.

In our 1998/99 policy speech we committed ourselves to facilitate access to the means of production through introduction of Farmer Support 
Centres, which we see as one stop facilities, assisting with information on marketing opportunities, production inputs and access to 
credit.

TASK TEAM ON FSC

Chairperson, In an attempt to realise our policy objectives, last year we formed about 26 task teams to deal with a wide range of 
agricultural development issues. They are also an attempt to fast track visible delivery areas like small-scale farmer development, small-
scale irrigation, livestock improvement, marketing and new markets. The list is endless chairperson, but what I think is imperative, is co-
operation between these task teams and the farming communities through the FSCs, where they have been established.

There is a task team that deals specifically with Farmer Support Centers and Mr. Bese from our Engcobo district office is the co-ordinator 
of that team. I am mentioning his name because it is my firm belief that you should be working very closely with them so that you can avoid 
duplication of duties.

Their mission is to identify areas where FSCs can be established and be effective in providing efficient service to small-scale farmers. 
Their latest report has identified King Williams Town and Fort Beaufort as convenient venues for the establishment of the first two FSCs.

We must say thank you to the PPT for having already 7 operational FSCs in the former Transkei. This has made the task of our officers a 
little bit easier because they can now focus on the former Ciskei and former CPA areas.

Chairperson, it is my firm belief that revitalisation of agriculture can only be achieved through a multi-disciplinary approach that will 
incorporate the following:

1. Effective Farmer Training and Capacity Building Programme
* Agricultural Research and Technology
* Marketing of locally produced products
* Input supply
* Agricultural Infrastructural development
* Financing and
* Effective Farmers Organisations

TRAINING

If this audience agrees with me chairperson, on the urgency of addressing the above mentioned factors then let us agree that we need more 
viable FSCs that will provide training to farmers on the new productive farming practices in their own context and life situation.

Farmers should be trained to be able to identify and access their own farming needs and problems. They should also be helped to develop 
leadership, organisational and managerial skills.

INPUT SUPPLY

Chairperson, together with input suppliers we should improve our relations and communication. Farmers, the department and other 
agricultural stakeholders should meet and discuss issues of common concern in attempt to ensure that small-scale farmers have better access 
to agricultural inputs. No Farmer Support Centre should run out of Agricultural Inputs, as this would be an indication of failing in one of 
its objectives.

MARKERTING

One of the key elements in transforming subsistence agriculture to a more commercially viable sector is to ensure that the previously 
disadvantaged farmers have access to local and international markets.

FSC should work closely with the private sector and other stakeholders like the present marketing council, to ensure that farmers are 
advised on how and where to market their products.

We have drafted a provincial marketing bill that takes into consideration our provincial agricultural production setup without deviating 
from the present National Marketing Act. When this bill is passed into law we will consult farmers in a process of establishing a 
Provincial Marketing Council.

RESARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

For farmers to improve their production and make a meaningful impact in the international and local markets, they must always be aware of 
the current agricultural research findings and adopt new technological production methods.

Research institutes like Dohne and Grootfontein, and experimental farms should ensure that information is available for farmers through 
their institutions like the FSCs.

FINANCING

This is a thorny issue that continues to affect the production potential of small-scale farmers. Although there are bold attempts by 
governments to address this matter, sometimes it does not filter down to farmers. Workshops and more consultation is crucial and the FSCs 
can play a role in ensuring that farmers are informed on the available financial institutions and the requirements for accessing such 
funds.

INFRASTRUCTURAL PROVISION

This is to a greater extent the duty of our department. For agriculture to play a meaningful role in the provincial economic growth we need 
to ensure that there is fencing, dipping tanks, small irrigation schemes where there is not enough water and shearing sheds. We are busy 
prioritising for the coming financial year and communities are expected to submit their infrastructural requirement through the district 
offices. FSCs should assist farmers with the channeling of thew requisitions so that we can plan our projects for the coming financial 
year.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion chairperson, I want to comment on the role of the department in strengthening the FSCs. Broad discussions are needed to see 
if Agricultural extension officers, Agricultural economists, Agronomists, Animal Health Technicians, Land Use Planners and Irrigation 
Specialists cannot be deployed at these centres to ensure effective support service for farmers.

The new Board of Directors have got a huge role to play in ensuring that FSCs are viable entities that can self-sustain themselves as 
government cannot be able to continue to sustain these institutions.

I want to once again thank the staff of the PPT for their relentless efforts that have taken us this far.

I wish all the new members of the board a happy term of office in their new hot seat and I welcome them in the ranks of those committed to 
alleviate poverty in this province.

I Thank You!!!



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