Host of opportunities available, farmers told

THE farming sector has been urged to be innovative and maximise the potential available to them in Nelson Mandela Bay, so they can reap the rewards of agriculture.

This was the message from business sciences practitioner Andre Parker at a Nelson Mandela Bay IDP business sector workshop yesterday.

Parker, of the University of Pretoria, said: “We need farmers to participate in the opportunities available in import and export.

“We sit with a huge opportunity in the agriculture sector.”

His experience as an executive director spans 28 years and he has been providing leadership in best practices to postgraduate students and leading organisations for 34 years.

Parker addressed about 50 people in the Port Elizabeth City Hall yesterday at the first workshop.

It is part of a series of meetings in the city to define key issues that could form part of a long-term strategic vision for the city.

Workshops covering the automotive, construction and tourism sectors are just some of those to be held in the coming fortnight.

Parker said Port Elizabeth was a port city, which gave the agriculture sector a huge advantage.

Residents were given a chance to supply written suggestions on improving agriculture in the metro. The main gripe was the lack of water.

Parker said: “The strategy is to minimise your use of water resources. You cannot help the water shortage, but you have to minimise the use.”

Nelson Mandela Bay city manager, Johann Mettler said he was thrilled with the idea of the workshops.