Agriculture and Land Affairs : Vote 25 and 29

Kent Durr, MP – ACDP

Thursday, 20 June 2002

In the National Council of Provinces today, Kent Durr MP for the African Christian Democratic Party, gave the following speech during a debate on Agriculture and Land Affairs, Vote 25 and 29.

Minister, according to the publication, Agri-Business, May Edition, market and price prospects for most agricultural enterprises are promising and are already better than for the 2000/2001 production year.

There has been a sharp increase in grain prices and maize prices have more than doubled and wool prices have shown an 80% increase on this time last year.

Also meat prices and grazing conditions have been good generally.

According to Mr Chris Bekker of ABSA Agribusiness, the table grape industry in the lower Orange River region had had a record harvest and approximately 14,5 million boxes have been exported, 6,5 million boxes more than last year, and at good prices.

Due to downy mildew the reduced grape harvest in the Western Cape has resulted in a shortage of white wine and grape juice.

The apple industry looks promising also as far as prices and volumes are concerned, due to crop failure elsewhere in the world.

However our industry is still travelling on the momentum of past years and investment levels are low because confidence has not returned to this industry, with some 11,5% of farms up for sale compared to traditional averages of approximately 3,5%.

Part of the reason for this can be found in the continued poor rural safety and security and a resultant poor quality of life. The fact is that over the past year 900 farmers were attacked and 140 farmers killed. Without farm security, there will be no food security

Nothing has demonstrated more the need for food security in South Africa, than the current prevailing famine circumstances in Southern Africa. Nothing has brought home more to us the essential deed for a confident agricultural sector.

But also I am concerned about the falling levels of research support from government, National and Provincial.

Also in my constituency near Citrusdal, we have research station standing idle, and the same can be seen all over the country.

If we do not maintain a technical lead in all fields of Agriculture, we will be overtaken and will lose our position, and our position has been hard earned.

We are the second largest fruit exporter in the world and we exported the first refrigerated fruit to Europe over 100 years ago in 1902, almost 50 years before Australia. Now they are beginning to overtake us in many fields.

Please pay attention to confidence, security and research; three essential elements in successful agriculture and food security.


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For further comment please call Kent Durr MP at 083 280 2674 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 478 1037