Agriculture investing in youth development

Policy speech outlines aim to create sustainable rural communities

EASTERN Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane presented his 2017/18 policy speech with the theme “Radical Economic Transformation and Youth Empowerment”, at the Bhisho legislature last week.

The speech seeks to achieve the department’s vision, which plans to create “vibrant, equitable, sustainable rural communities and food security for all”.

The MEC, who is eager to see young people participating in agriculture and rural development initiatives, dedicated his speech to the young people of this province.

“I would like to inspire and remind young people of this province that it does not matter who you are and where you come from, you can still make a huge contribution to the development of our country,” he said.

“In order for the province to drive the radical economic transformation, young people should learn from the legends like the late struggle stalwart, O R Tambo, so that they can be in the forefront of economic emancipation.

“They should position themselves to participate in the productive structures of our economy and transform these systems to be more equitable and share the wealth of the country to reduce poverty and inequality.

“Youth development without entrepreneurship will not yield the envisaged economic transformation. Young people must position themselves as entrepreneurs and wealth creators rather than job seekers.

“The state must use its resources to support youth entrepreneurship to improve access to economic opportunities.”

To achieve this, the province has adopted the Agricultural Economic Transformation Strategy to address lack of investment, secure off-take agreements, provide infrastructure, and provide secure land tenure.

The strategy seeks to empower rural communities as prosperous smallholders and communal farmers with special focus on youth and women so they can treat agriculture as a business and be supported with tangible programmes and projects that enables them to derive optimal economic value.

Qoboshiyane said this would be achieved through customised government supported partnerships between rural communities and the agricultural commercial sector to attract much-needed investment and transfer of entrepreneurial skills and employment.

To support young people, DRDAR has awarded 56 bursaries in the fields of veterinary sciences, agricultural engineering, animal production, soil science, plant pathology and crop production with the intention of attracting skills back after completion of these studies.

DRDAR appointed 84 unemployed graduates for internship in 2016/17 and spent a total of R4 687 544, paying stipends of R5 000 per intern.

Also in partnership with the services Seta, DRDAR appointed 119 interns who received stipends of R2 500 from Seta.

DRDAR also implemented five ICT projects in partnership with Sebata Municipal Solutions in Joe Gqabi and O R Tambo where 289 young people, receiving a monthly stipend of R1 500, participated for a period of one year.

The majority of these young people have since joined both the public and private sector.

In 2017/18, DRDAR will continue its partnership with Sebata Municipal Solutions and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality to implement ICT capacity building in rural areas targeting 150 youth for a year, earning a stipend of R1 800 per month.

With the support of DRDAR, the Tsolo Agricultural and Rural Development Insititute (Tardi) and Fort Cox College enrolled 560 students for qualifications in crop and animal production, agri-business, animal health and forestry.

In response to the outcry regarding student fees at tertiary institutions, full funding support is to be provided to the first intake of 50 students in the Animal Health Diploma at Tsolo College.

The Seta will provide funding for three years for another 105 students registered last year. The total value of funding over the next three years is R15.9-million.

DRDAR is to construct 19 new shearing sheds with dipping and handling facilities with a budget of R23.8-million to support wool producers, including training, mentorship and marketing.

This programme will be implemented in partnership with National Wool Growers’ Association to create 144 job opportunities and recruit five unemployed agricultural graduates for experiential learning.

DRDAR has also initiated the establishment of a veterinary school in partnership with the University of Fort Hare, which will be the second veterinary school in the country.

The department will also facilitate the establishment of youth cooperatives on renewable energy and maintenance in a programme it runs with UFH.

The National Rural Youth Service Corps, established in 2010 to develop rural youth to perform community service and spearheaded by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, will recruit 220 youth from the province this year.