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Official opening of Lushington shearing shed
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Agriculture & Land Affairs

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

SPEECH BY MEC MAMASE AT

THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE SHEARING SHED IN LUSHINGTON

ON 31 AUGUST 2000



INTRODUCTION

Master of ceremonies;
 Farmers, particularly Wool Growers;
 Community Members;
 Distinguished Guests;
 Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is indeed an honour for me to have been invited to officiate on this important day.This is an opportunity for both the Department of 
Agriculture and the farmers to share their respective vision, programmes, aspirations and together chat the way forward towards 
agricultural development in the Province of the Eastern Cape.The Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs (DALA) has put a policy in 
place that is aimed at unlocking the agricultural potential in the Province.This we intend to achieve through the process of encouraging a 
paradigm shift from subsistence to commodity production and ultimately to commercialisation of smallholder agricultural sector.

Today, Ladies and Gentlemen; I intend to share with you some ideas about the concept of sustainable agriculture.This is very much in line 
with our strategic policy objectives which are as follows:

* The promotion of sustainable use of natural resources;
* Encouraging increased food and fibre production, thus contributing towards food security;
* Stimulating increased economic activity from agriculture and
* Providing enabling legislation.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE THE CONCEPT

It is defined as a system that combines technologies, policies and activities aimed at integrating socio-economic principles with 
environmental concerns to simultaneously maintain or enhance production and services, reduce the level of production risk, protect the 
potential of natural resources, be economically viable and be socially acceptable.These objectives constitute the five pillars of 
sustainability which are respectively;

* Productivity;
* Security;
* Protection
* Viability and
* Acceptability

DALA PROGRAMME PERTAINING TO WOOL PRODUCTION

Eastern Cape DALA has designed a programme that encapsulates all the abovementioned pillars of sustainable agriculture.That programme is 
the integrated livestock and crop production development programme for the Eastern Cape.This programme aims at, in the long-run,

* Establishing animal and crop production / handling / processing and marketing facilities;
* Develop sustainable veld and fodder management systems for animal production;
* Improve livestock (herds and flocks);
* Training in skills needed for the above;

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABILITY TO SMALLHOLDER WOOL GROWERS

Having erected this admirable facility in the form of a shearing shed, the pillar of social acceptability becomes very important 
.Facilities of this nature form an important basis (social capital) for more economic activities to take place.Amongst the numerous 
constraints facing smallholder farmers, lack of facilities or access thereto, has been cited over and over again.Today, here we are, 
witnessing the opening of a shearing shed.Here we are witnessing the dawn of a new day in our economic activity to commercialise the 
smallholder farmer (the wool grower).

However, community members, farmers, youth ladies and gentlemen, is this shearing shed socially acceptable?

Does each and every member of this community welcome the existence of this shed?

Do we all know and understand that this is an economically important infrastructure that can change our lives for the better?

What do we intend to do to secure this infrastructure against vandalism and theft?

These questions are aimed at highlighting the importance of the pillar of sustainability called social acceptability.They are aimed at 
establishing to what extent do we, as community members understand the economic importance of this shearing shed.To what extent do we take 
ownership of this wool production project (business).To what extent do we accept responsibility for our resources, infrastructure and our 
business ventures.

Let us now move on and talk a little bit about the marketing of wool in the Province of the Eastern Cape.Wool is produced throughout South 
Africa.The main production areas are the drier regions of the country.The Eastern Cape including the former Ciskei and Transkei regions 
produces about 24% of the national clip.The largest competitor for wool production is Australia.Between 90 and 95% of wool production is 
exported.The main export destinations are countries like Italy, France, Germany, the UK, Japan, China, Taiwan and the USA.As an export 
commodity, wool will continue to benefit from the devaluation of the Rand against most user currencies.Wool growers stand to benefit too.

This also agrees that for the commodity (wool) production to be sustainable, it has to have a definite market outlet.This ensures that the 
production of that particular commodity is viable and hence sustainable.

CONCLUSION

Master of ceremonies, farmers, ladies and gentlemen, let me take this opportunity to, and on behalf of the honourable MEC Mamase, 
congratulate the Lushington Wool Growers Association for this adorable shearing shed.This is an important economic infrastructure.It has to 
be used to best possible level for the economic benefit of the participants in the project on a sustainable basis.

Master of ceremonies, I now declare the Lushington Shearing Shed officially opened.

I thank you all.

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