DRDAR RENEWS MoU WITH LOWER SAXONY

IN a bid to improve agriculture, research and technology in the Eastern Cape, the provincial Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the German State of Lower Saxony. DRDAR MEC Xolile Nqatha and Lower Saxony Minister of Agriculture Barbara Otte-Kzinast signed the detailed agreement which promises to improve tea production in the province, revamping of aquaculture infrastructure, production of essential oil crops, production of industrial crops such as sugarbeet and chicory amongst others. Speaking during the signing of the memorandum MEC Nqatha said: “Economic conditions demand us to collaborate with other countries to improve the socio-economic challenge we face as the country. The partnership will be taken to a higher level.” Minister Otte-Kinast said she hoped the renewal of the partnership will bear fruit particularly in the field of research. She said it was important that research be part of the agreement as politicians should take their decisions based on research. The two political leaders made an undertaking that each department would form its own team which would look into the “swift” implementation of the agreement. MEC Nqatha said the implementation of the agreement will be done on a daily basis and will not be events driven. The two provinces will also do staff exchange and farmer training and exchange over a five-year period. Already, 14 extension officers which assist farmers in local offices of the department were sent to Germany for a week-long training. In the next financial year, the department is planning to send farmers to learn new crop and livestock production methods and new technologies they can implement in their day to day farming activities. The delegation also visited projects in Bathurst, Alexandria, Patensie and Tsitsikamma.