DAFFOfficial newsletter of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

April 2014

When government started talking about transformation in the fishing industry there were those who reacted with steely coldness, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said. However, on 3 April, history was made and it became clear just how possible it is to truly transform. With the full partici-pation of workers and ordinary fisher folk, wealth and profits are shared. We as South Africans have come closer to addressing inequality.

“Oceana Group, South Africa’s largest fishing company, will pay out R289 million to employee beneficiaries of the Oceana Empowerment Trust,” Mr Francois Kuttel, CEO of the Oceana Group said.

The Oceana Empowerment Trust (the Trust) was established in 2006 and is a share ownership scheme for black em-ployees who are South African citizens and who are permanently employed within Oceana. The wide geographic spread of these employee beneficiaries ranges from Lambert’s Bay and Doring Bay in the Northern Cape, to St Helena Bay, Cape Town, Hout Bay in the Western Cape, as well as Port Elizabeth, Durban and Johan-nesburg.

It has an 11,7 % stake in Oceana. The Trust demonstrates the Oceana Group’s commitment to support government’s objectives of economic transformation.

A total of 2 650 beneficiaries will get a pay-out of an average R100 000,00 each,

Transformation in the fishing industry

to p 3

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Editor Piwe Mbiko (012) 319 6936 piwem@daff.gov.zaReporters Thuli Dube (012) 319 7929 nokuthulad@daff.gov.za Samuel Kgatla (012) 319 7181 samuelk@daff.gov.za Innocent Mhlanga (012) 319 7827 innocentm@daff.gov.za Rony Moremi (012) 319 6622 rincertm@daff.gov.za Mercia Smith (012) 319 6666 mercias@daff.gov.za Jamela Nkanyane (012) 319 6903 jamelan@daff.gov.zaInterns Hellen Phushela (012) 319 7819 mmamotsisip@daff.gov.za Dineo Makgato (012) 319 6958 dineomak@daff.gov.zaSubeditors Lerato Mofokeng (012) 319 7927 leratomof@daff.gov.za Willie de Jager (012) 319 6636 williedj@daff.gov.zaDistribution Pam Sutherland (012) 319 7104 pamsu@daff.gov.za Website: www.daff.gov.za

DAFFnews is the newsletter of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry

and Fisheries. Private Bag X250, PRETORIA 0001.

It is published by the Directorate Communication Services, Private Bag

X144, PRETORIA 0001.

Opinions expressed in DAFFnews are not necessarily those of the

editorial team. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying,

recording or any information storage or retrieval system without prior

permission from the editor.

The agricultural sector has been under severe scrutiny about transformation and the implementation of BEE.

So far, Agbiz is the only organisation that measures implementation of AgriBEE, as well as officially determine the chal-lenges and intentions of the sector – and that amongst the agribusinesses. Lindie Stroebel, who represents Agbiz, and therefore agribusinesses in South Africa, as an AgriBEE Charter Council member, conducts this survey every two years in an attempt to base all positions and negotiations on sound information. The 2014 Agbiz AgriBEE Survey has just been completed and highlights of the findings were shared by Mrs Stroebel today.

A total of 21 agribusinesses responded to the survey, of which 5 were below R1 bil-lion turnover (the smallest with R25 million turnover), 9 were between R1 billion and R4 billion turnover and the remaining 7 over R4 billion turnover. For the purpose of analyzing differences, the smaller 5 were labelled as category 1, the middle group as Category 2 and the largest agribusi-nesses as Category 3.

It is very difficult to measure the BEE compliance of the agricultural sector as a whole, as so few enterprises have deter-mined their score, never mind obtained accredited scorecards. The reason being that the majority of enterprises falling under the AgriBEE sector codes are farm-ers and smaller enterprises. Due to the uncertainty of the thresholds level and the frequent changes in legislation, this caused severe difficulty to strategize and

implement. Agribusinesses, on the other hand, are mostly large enterprises, which is unlikely to fall under the categories of Exempted Micro Enterprises (EME’s) and Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE’s). Ac-cordingly, most agribusinesses have been measuring their scores and obtaining ac-credited scorecards. In this survey, it was notable that all of the larger agribusinesses had accredited BEE scorecards in place already.

Almost half of the respondents indicated their current AgriBEE scores to be at level 6 or 5, with the intention of improving it by 2016. Most have the intention of improving it to a level 4 compliance by 2016. The other half of the respondents indicated scores of level 7 or 8 compliance

and only 3 were non-compliant. They all have the intention of improving their scores significantly by 2016. The figure below indicates the detail of the current versus the planned scores.

Agribusinesses indicated that toward optimizing the impact of their transforma-tion and BEE compliance efforts, as well as to obtain maximum return on their investments, they were inclined to prioritise the skills development element, followed by the enterprise & supplier development element and the social development ele-ment.

For further details, contact:Lindie Stroebel, Agbiz Manager: Agri-

business Intelligence. Tel: 079 497 1594 Email:lindie@agbiz.co.za

Agribusinesses implementing AgriBEE

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after tax. The trust is currently worth R1,2 billion and the pay-out involves 25% of the accrued equity of the trust.

This pay-out reinforces Oceana’s posi-tion as the leader in converting fishing rights into shared value for all its share-holders and its stakeholders. This shared value will not only benefit the beneficiaries but their families and, most important, contribute to the local economy in the region in which they live. Ms Joemat-Pettersson said the importance of ensur-ing broad-based transformation could become a reality not just within the fishing industry but in other industries as well.

The Oceana Group made sure that the beneficiaries receive financial counselling because this is a large amount of money in many of these beneficiaries lives. Ben-eficiaries can call in any time and ask for financial advice and they will be put into contact with specifically trained people. Employees are encouraged to pay exist-ing and expensive debt, as we all know how expensive some of the microlending activities can be, Mr Kuttel said. He also emphasised that they took the black-based part of BEE (black economic empower-ment) very seriously.

At the end of the lock-in period in 2021, beneficiaries who hold participatory rights in the Trust will be able to convert these rights into shares.

Oceana Group is a 54,9% black-owned and controlled company. The core busi-ness is catching, processing, marketing and distributing canned fish, fishmeal, fish oil, lobster, horse-mackerel, squid and hake. The company has experieced positive growth since the trust was es-tablished, which can be attributed to the dedication and commitment displayed by all employees.

Principal shareholders in the company include Tiger Brands Limited (41,9%) and Brimstone Investment Corporation Limited (16,8%). Oceana is listed on both the JSE

and Namibian securities exchanges. “An event like this, shows there is will-

ingness from the broader South African community in general, and the private

Transformation in the fishing industryfrom p 1

sector in particular, to contribute to South Africa’s good story. This is an example of a successful Public-Private Partnership,” Ms Joemat-Pettersson concluded.

Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Mr Francois Kuttel, CEO of Oceana Group.

Incorporated in 1918, Oceana Group is the largest fishing company in South Africa, and an important participant in Namibia’s fishing industry. It is listed on both the Johannesburg (JSE) and Namibian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Mission Statement

To be the leading empowered •fishing and commercial cold

storage company in Africa,responsibly harvesting a diverse •range of marine resources,efficiently producing relevant •products for global markets,actively developing the potential •of all employees,positively assisting less •privileged communities in which the company operates,thereby consistently providing •superior returns to all stakeholders.

Oceana Group

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Recently meat safety has been a con-cern to the South African government (since the ban on red meat exports three years ago). However, with the great news of this ban having been lifted there are some things South Af-rican citizens should know in order to be line with what this all means.

What better way to start than the law? We visited the Director: Veterinary and Public Health, Dr Tembile Songabe, to provide further information on the Meat Safety Act.What is the Meat Safety Act in layman’s terms?

Basically, the currently adopted Meat Safety Act is legislation put into place to regulate the proper procedures involving meat and meat product safety.What are the objectives of the Act?

The objectives of the Act are to provide for measures to promote meat safety and the safety of animal products, to establish and maintain essential national standards in respect to abattoirs, to regulate the importation and exportation of meat, to establish meat safety schemes and to pro-

Breaking down the Meat Safety ActBy Musa Khumalo

vide for matters connected therewith.What does the Act prohibit in terms of meat purchases?

Except for meat has been slaughtered and prepared in state regulated abattoirs the law entails that the selling of meat for public consumption is illegal. Persons found to be selling meat that has not gone through the proper channels; will be pun-ishable by law.Are there exceptions stipulated in the Act

and what are these?The only exception for meat slaugh-

tered outside the abattoir is when it is for own consumption or for cultural or religious purposes. So basically the Act permits backyard slaughterings, however, it prohibits the sale of any meat or animal product from an animal that was slaugh-tered for own consumption, or cultural, or religious purposes.How is the Act enforced by the depart-ment?

The Meat Safety Act is a national Act resorting under the Department of Ag-riculture, Forestry and Fisheries and is administered by the Directorate Veterinary Public Health. According to the country’s Constitution the abattoirs are exclusive to provincial competencies. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the provincial depart-ments of agriculture and the directorates or subdirectorate of Veterinary Public Health/Food Safety and their team of veterinary public health officers to enforce the Act and to regulate the abattoirs, es-pecially in the registration of abattoirs. In essence, no sales are permitted unless they have inspected, evaluated, monitored and assessed the meat.Mention a few penalties that law breakers would face.

If the law is broken, the perpetrators can to p 5

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expect the following: Firstly, in the case of a first conviction, the offender is liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both a fine and such imprisonment. Secondly, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, whether it be for the same offence or for some other offence involving the Act, the person is liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years or to both a fine and such imprisonment. These sentences are passed by the magistrate’s courts. Why is it important for consumers to be familiar with the Act?

It is important for consumers to be aware of the Act because it gives set guide-lines an their rights. The department has therefore embarked upon a Meat Safety Awareness Campaign as a tool to inform the public about certain matters relating to the Act. It is also important for consumers to know that there are essential national standards for abattoirs. This Act does not stand alone but is in alignment with the Consumer Protection Act that consumers

should also be familiar with.Regarding a retailer who breaks the law, to whom can consumers report them?

Consumers have the right to report any misconduct (breaking this law). We en-courage consumers to go to their nearest Sate Veterinary Service offices and envi-ronmental health offices located in their local Municipality. What can consumers look out for that will indicate that a retailer is complying with the law?

The stamp of approval. It means is that the animal has been inspected as well as the carcass before and after slaughter by a qualified meat inspector. Once satisfied that the meat is indeed safe for human consumption, the inspector places a stamp of approval (usually purple) on the meat. Unlike poultry, in most cases you will find information on the packaging about it having gone through an abattoir. With meat types such as single steaks, sausages, mincemeat and the like it is always best to ask if the meat has gone through a registered abattoir. Actually, we

encourage consumers to do just that for their own sake.Is our meat safe?

Meat that comes from state regulated abattoirs is definitely safe. We actually en-courage South Africans to continue enjoy-ing their meat, but responsibly. This means that each one of us has a responsibility to ensure that the meat that we consume has gone through the authorised practices in order for it to be safe.

Meat Safety Actfrom p 4

Protein plays an important role in hu-man health and well-being. Proteins are sources of essential amino acids, which the human body cannot produce by itself.

However it is high quality proteins that are considered readily digestible and contain the dietary essential amino acids in quantities that correspond to human requirements.

Protein requirements are often defined as the minimum dietary intake which satis-fies the metabolic demand and achieves nitrogen equilibrium and maintenance of the body protein mass, in addition to the needs for growth.

Protein and amino acid recommenda-tions for normal, healthy children and adults have varied considerably over time, and the importance of protein quality and quantity, is increasingly recognised.

In undernourished individuals, and when protein sources with low protein quality are predominantly consumed, protein require-ments may be significantly higher than previously recommended. An analysis of population groups from developing countries suggest that the prevalence of inadequate utilisable protein ranges be-tween 10 to 30%.

Nutrient density is defined as the ratio

The importance of protein qualityof the nutrient content to the total energy content (kilojoules) of a specific food prod-uct. The more nutrients and the fewer the kilojoules that are present, the higher the nutrient density.

Lean red meat including lamb, mutton, beef and veal is a nutrient-dense food source.

It plays a key role in a balanced diet by providing a nourishing package of nutrients.

A serving of lean lamb of mutton (80 g to 90 g cooked) provides numerous essential nutrients with many of these, such as pro-tein and zinc in significant quantities.

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South African dairy farmers are op-erating in a disproportionate market system. The number of dairy farmers has dropped from 3 899 in 2007 to only 2 600 in 2011, and the remain-ing farmers are facing with an imbal-anced market.

Of the 360 buyers in the country, the top five buyers purchase 65% of locally produced milk, leaving the remaining 35% to be distributed among the other buyers. The industry is dominated by major supermarket groups to such an extent that they have total control of the industry says Mr Saijil Singh, lead analyst at Coface.

The result is that a number of dairy farmers will not be able to survive the cur-rent low producer prices. Several farmers have sold their herds and other farm sales may follow. Cost increases include veteri-nary costs, up between 10% and 15%, the proposed electricity increase of 16% and a minimum wage increase of 52%.

Dairy farmers receive lower milk prices compared to other regions in South Africa

because of a non-market-related price cut in June last year. This decrease in the price of milk will have a negative effect on farmers for some time to come. Producer prices would have to increase significantly to avert a disaster and to guarantee the sustainability of milk production.

StrengthsSuccess in the dairy industry depends

on two factors: the quality of the prod-ucts and the support of milk processors. Successful advertising, exports and the development of new products are also important. Huge sums have been in-vested in the “Proudly South African” food campaign, designed to encourage con-sumers to purchase domestically-grown and produced goods. Many of the large producers now produce and market their own dairy products, reflecting the increas-ing maturity of the sector.

Weaknesses The poor state of the country’s infra-

structure makes it costly for farmers to transport their products, both for the domestic markets and for export. The low profitability of milk production is the ma-jor barrier to entry for emerging farmers. The volatility of the market and the effect of imports in depressing producer prices make it difficult for emerging farmers to enter the industry. The dynamics of pricing in the dairy industry as well as the shelf life of products is such that farmers are pressurised to accept whatever price that producers/processors offer.

Opportunities The high demand for value-added

products such as sour milk, yoghurt and cheese is a market to be explored. How-ever, this route would require high invest-ment, market knowledge and training. In addition, over the past few decades, there has been a rising demand for free-range products.

Threats Farmers and producers lack the ex-

pertise and equipment to pasteurise milk. Transport and quantity are major deterrents for small farmers to sell their products to large processors. Buyers find it not worth the effort to access these farm-ers because of the road infrastructure and small volumes of milk produced. To the emerging farmer’s benefit, smaller proc-essors tend to pay higher raw milk prices than the larger processors during periods of seasonal milk shortages because they lack the bargaining power of the larger processors.

During periods of surplus, large pro-ducers dump their products in the retail sector at low prices, making it difficult for the small processors to compete. The market is dominated by four major processors, making it difficult for emerg-

Are small dairy farmers becoming extinct

Figure 2 above shows that during 2011 New Zealand held the biggest market share for South African milk and dairy product exports, accounting for 21%, followed by France and Australia with 20% and 12% respectively. The smallest shares were Italy and Morocco with a 2% market share each. to p 7

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ing farmers to make inroads. Rising production costs decrease their ability to make profits, resulting in many farmers closing down.

Export and Import of dairy products

Internationally, the main milk producing regions are the European Union 31%, New Zealand 30%, Australia 12%, US 5% and the remaining 22% is the cumulative total of the other regions in the world. Milk production in South Africa makes a small contribution to the world production but in terms of the values of agricultural produc-tion in South Africa, it is the fifth largest agricultural industry in the country.

Milk production in New Zealand and in other parts of the world is cheaper in comparison to South Africa, and imported milk from the EU and US is cheaper than in South Africa because of subsidies in these countries. Dairy companies in these countries are paid a guaranteed floor price for designated quantities of dairy products. Dairy companies in both countries are given a subsidy to bridge the gap between the supported domestic price and world market price. In the EU, dairy farmers are paid subsidies for the use of certain inputs.

Export The SA dairy industry is also an impor-

tant earner of foreign exchange. In 2011, exports of dairy products amounted to 288 million kilogrammes valued at over R3 billion. There was an increase of 57% of milk and dairy products exported to the world and a dramatic increase of 109% in 2011 compared to 2001 volumes.

Import South Africa is an importer of dairy

products. The average import value over the past ten years amounted to over R468 million and the quantity amounted to over 28-million kilogrammes.

from p 6

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Interest in the adoption of biotech-nology crops is growing significantly worldwide, especially in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), therefore calling for stringent regulation across all borders. Through biosafety regulation, countries are able to protect human health and the environment while harnessing the benefits of modern biotechnology. Implementation of functional and science-based biosafety regulatory systems is one aspect countries must take into consideration to ensure the safe use of biotech crops.

Several countries have implemented frameworks and policies, while others are struggling with certain aspects to develop such regulatory systems.

While South Africa is the leader in biotech crop adoption on the African continent, biosafety regulation is at the heart of policy makers. South Africa, through the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), has ac-cepted that biotechnology tools can aid in addressing food production towards a food secure region.

“We have approved policies and regu-latory frameworks to support biotechnol-ogy, especially the GMOs,” said Mortimer Mannya, Deputy Director-General: Ag-ricultural Production, Health and Food Safety (DDD: APHFS) at DAFF.

AfricaBio, an independent, biotech-nology stakeholder association, in col-laboration with international and national partners, hosted a Southern African Agric-Biotech and Biosafety Conference held in Pretoria from 3 to 5 March 2014.

Speaking at the conference themed “Smart and sustainable agriculture in Southern Africa: meeting future food needs,” Mannya highlighted frameworks and policies in place to regulate bio-technology.

“These frameworks work within a range of other policies such as the Biotechnolo-gy Strategy and Bio economy Strategy.”

“South Africa has approved the Food and Nutrition Security Policy to ensure that from the agriculture perspective among other contributors there is a productive response, increasing fallow land utilisa-tion for food production”.

“The department is finalising the Ag-ricultural Policy Action Plan (APAP) to ensure agriculture has a five-year roll-ing plan to enhance food production, employment and inclusive growth,” said Mannya.

Meanwhile, other countries in the re-gion and elsewhere in the world do not have biotechnology policies in place yet. However, others still have to pass bills.

In Angola there is no legislation for biosafety yet, highlighted a delegate. However, the country would like support from the SADC region and other countries like Brazil.

Dr D. George, a delegate from Bot-swana, said at the biosafety conference that Parliament adopted the National Biosafety Policy in 2013. They are hopeful

that a bill will be passed in the coming session. With an increasing production of GM crops in South Africa, commercial farmers in Botswana have also shown interest in this technology.

Moving on to Lesotho, this landlocked country developed the National Biosafety Network between 2003 and 2005. A Biosafety Bill was also amended in 2013. Lesotho is also in a process of analysing its laboratories to capacitate them for testing GMOs.

However, the country has no seed policy yet. The delegate from the Department of Environment said there is no awareness of any GMO in the country but there could be traces because of imports from South Africa that are not regulated.

Edmund Mvula, a delegate from Ma-lawi stated that regulation is done through the Biosafety Act 2002, Act No. 13 of 2002. The country is also confining field trials of GM crops at many locations.

Mauritius is another country whose GMO Act is not enforced yet but it makes use of the biosafety committee. The coun-try’s crop margin is not big. However, they desire to work with more crops than the current cane project which has been on for the past ten years.

Harmonisation of regulatory systems can be achieved through such dialogue among countries and organisations. The SADC was not available to address mem-ber states at the conference. However, member states voiced recommendations in a proposal to the SADC.

The states seek assistance in develop-ing biosafety and biotechnology bills and laws which seem to be a challenge for most countries. Adoption and commer-cialisation of GMOs is another challenge facing many countries in the region.

In the light of the discussions, Mannya further highlighted the need for a tool-box that will “enable governments and prac-titioners across the region to harmonise, compare and exchange technologies”.

By Jamela Nkanyane

Need to harmonise biosafety regulation worldwide

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Recommendations made to the par-liamentary committee on agriculture, forestry and fisheries by the African Centre for Bio-Safety (ACB) during a briefing to overturn the GMO Execu-tive Council’s approval of grain com-modity import of Dow’s 2,4-D crops on the grounds of detrimental effects on human health as a carcinogen risk, claiming that the safety of GMO crops was a major concern, were met with strong opposition from the Agricultural Biotechnology Industry (ABI) during the same briefing. ABI rejected these ludicrous claims with sound, substanti-ated scientific information.

The ABI highlighted the use of biotech-nology, GMOs, as safe as conventional food, to combat constraints in crops in order to improve yield, alleviate poverty and provide sustainable food security for a growing population. It was emphasised that the regulatory framework of South Africa could be trusted to make decisions that were safe for the populace.

Mr. Corey Pickelsimer, senior agricultural attaché, US Embassy, Pretoria, briefed the Committee that GM technologies currently available or well advanced in the pipeline are a vital tool in the tool-box needed to feed, on a sustainable basis, a global pop-ulation approaching 10 billion people.

“The question is whether farmers will be permitted to use this new technology. While affluent nations can afford to adopt ultralow-risk positions, and pay more for food produced by the so-called ‘organic’ methods, the one billion chronically un-dernourished people of low income, food-deficit nations cannot,” Pickelsimer said.

As far as the safety of GM crops to date is concerned, he quoted ten leading international independent scientific and medical institutions, privately funded, not by industry, with substantiated scientific and medical research stating that: “We have found no new risks to human health or the environment from GMOs approved by regulators so far”.

Mr Hennie Groenewald, executive man-

ager, Biosafety South Africa, briefed the Committee that genetically modified tech-nology, GMOs, is one of the options that can provide Africa with food security.

An emergent smallholder farmer, Ms Tepsy Ntseoane, a mother of two, from Emfuleni Municipality in the Sebideng district, told the committee of her success as an emergent farmer growing genetically modified Bt maize. Previously, she planted 100 hectares of conventional maize on dryland. Her yield was a disappointing 2 to 3t/ha, the crop was devastated by stalk borers.

Two years ago she was introduced to Bt maize and planted two hectares on dry-land. Her yield was 7t/ha with much higher quality maize.

“My total yield was 14 tons on two hec-tares. To achieve this with conventional maize I would have needed seven hectares. At the current price of R3 000/t my income was R42 000. I feed my cattle, chickens

and family on Bt maize and we are very healthy.

“Any surplus I sell provides me with extra disposable income to expand my farming operations. GM maize has already shown that it can contribute to food security. In 1998, when GM maize was first introduce into South Africa, the average yield on dry-land was 2,73t/ha. In 2008 GM yield had increased to 5.09t/ha – a productivity increase of 81% a positive impact on food security,” she said.

Over the past ten years, numerous dem-onstration plots of conventional and Bt maize planted side by side in different areas where Bt showed a significant yield increase through eliminating the stalk borer, which caused yield losses of up to 75%.

Consequently, hundreds of smallholder farmers have now adopted the GMO technology and improved their lives and food security.By Hans Lombard

Pictured from left: Mr Lulu Johnson MP (ANC) chairperson of the portfolio committee on agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Ms Annette Steyn MP (DA) shadow minister of agriculture, with representatives of the agricultural biotech industry: Mr Corey Pickelsimer, senior agricultural attaché, US embassy, Pretoria; Dr Bongani Maseko, product manager, AfricaBio; Dr. Hennie Groenewald, executive manager Biosafety South Africa; and Ms Tepsy Ntseoane, smallholder farmer.

Safe GMOs a tool to feed global population

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Key stakeholders in agricultural fi-nance, including Agbiz, launched the Agricultural Development Finance Forum for South Africa (ADeFFSA) on Thursday, 27 March.

This Forum will duly also be expanded into the southern Africa region, with the support of Finmark Trust. On the back of two Finance in Agriculture Workshops hosted by Agbiz, BASA and SAIA in re-spectively 2012 and 2013, ADeFFSA was launched to establish a formalised network of development finance institu-tions in order to achieve greater and sustainable access to finance and capital

DAFF and CAAPD getting youth involved in farmingThe Department of Agriculture, For-estry and Fisheries (DAFF) along with the Comprehensive African Ag-ricultural Development Programme (CAADP) held their first youth consul-tation workshop. The workshop was held from 11 March 2014 to 12 March 2014.

The programme took place at the ARC hall in Hatfield in Pretoria. The focus of the workshop was to encourage youth to take the Agriculture sector to the next level. In July 2003, the African Heads of State, South African included, endorsed the African Union (NEPAD), and initiated the continent’s framework for agriculture-led growth and development to address food security. CAAPD takes a multistakeholder and collaborative approach to develop-ment, hence Consultative Stakeholder Workshops to solicit inputs from various constituencies that will ultimately feed into its final products, the CAAPD Na-

tional Compact and Long-term Agriculture Plan.

The youth consultation workshop was held to encourage the involved youth in the sector to keep up the good job and to consider the four pillars of CAADP. The CAAPD National Youth Consultative Workshop has five objectives, including: inducting youth stakeholders on CAAPD, its nature, processes, achievements, and opportunities for youth involved in the agricultural value chains and to solicit , record and incorporate youth perspective (understanding circumstances, aspirations and needs) into the CAAPD processes as one of the key requirements of the CAAPDP country process, contributing to building/strengthening inclusive dialogue and consultations across the various play-ers and stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector at all levels; identify-ing priority programmes and developing a

By Dineo Makgato

plan of action by the youth that could be incorporated into the CAAPD’s ultimate final projects which are known as the CAADP Country Compact and long-term Agriculture Investment Plan, and select-ing a national Youth CAADP Task Team with a mandate to seek buy-in of other stakeholders to support the workshop’s recommendations.

As the Director: Animal Health, Dr Maja was addressing the youth; she indicated that this was actually the 10th CAADP meeting. She continued that through agriculture, people will unite and be one in creating employment and eliminating poverty. On the second day of the work-shop, the selected representatives for the small group presented their views. “Poverty is in the mind “. Mr Tobias Takavarash said these words to the youth at the workshop while encouraging them to work hard on the Agriculture sector.

Agricultural Development Finance Forum launched

for developing agriculture and smallhold-ers especially. Access to finance remains a significant barrier to smallholders and new sector entrants especially, and best practice and models need to be devel-oped to ensure bankable business plans, collateral alternatives, value chain finance and off-take agreements, skills training and transfer, etc. to qualify for financing. Generally finance is available, but access is constrained owing to a myriad of fac-tors, including legislation such as the now even further tightened National Credit Act, through its current amendment process.

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The tenth Comprehensive Africa Ag-riculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform Meet-ing was hosted by the African Union Commission and NEPAD at Durban International Convention Centre from 18-21 March 2014.

The meeting, which was titled “African Conference about Agriculture and Rural Development”, took place just in time as agriculture is receiving a lot of attention with the year 2014 having been declared as the year of agriculture by African Heads of State at the 19th African Union Summit.

This year also marks 10 years since CAADP was endorsed by the African Heads of State to allocate 10% of their budget in order to meet 6% growth in agri-culture. The aim of the CAADP Partnership Platform Meetings is to share experiences as well as improve the alignment and ef-fectiveness of efforts by African and foreign partners with respect to CAADP. The meet-ing is also a forum for giving reports and discussing progress made in some areas such as financing and other mechanisms of funding as well as identifying priority goals, actions and targets based on les-sons learnt and emerging challenges and opportunities.

This year, the meeting attended by stake-holders in African agriculture, government, the private sector, international develop-ment agencies, the African Union, civil so-ciety and Regional Economic Communities will take stock of progress made by CAADP in the last ten years and determine a way forward to the next ten years. “This is a great time to be in Africa and a great time to be in Agriculture”, said Michael Hailu, Director of Technical Centre for Agricul-tural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). Africa has the potential to feed itself as well as the world, the continent is making progress to-wards achieving this as shown by growth of 3.4% in agriculture surpassing population growth, which grew by 2.5%. However, to sustain growth in agriculture there should

By Rony Moremi

The 10th CAADP partnership platform meeting

be commitment to transformation and wide application of science and investment in research is crucial. “If you want it to be sustainable, you need science”, said Jean Ping, former Chairperson of African Union Commission.

“CAADP has now become a recognised brand in Africa and throughout the world”, said Dr Ibrahim Assame Mayaki, NEPAD Agency CEO. He noted progress made since CAADP started and that 40 countries have signed compacts while 13 countries have surpassed expectations. He also, acknowledged, however, the more hills to be climbed before being fully satisfied. Quoting from Nelson Mandela, he said, “After climbing a great hill, one finds that there are many more hills to climb”, he also warned against focusing more on investment which could create the risk of dependency. Ms Bongiwe Njobe, a member of the High Level advisory panel on agriculture, advised that there needs to be systematic change and more creative ways to be adopted in order to generate income and attract investors.

Referring to this year’s theme, of “Trans-forming Africa’s Agriculture for shared prosperity: Harnessing opportunities for inclusive growth and sustainable devel-opment” Stephen Muchiri, CEO of Pan African Farmers Organisation (PAFO), said there cannot be transformation in Agriculture if farmers are still poor and struggling to make a living. He also said that there should be a comprehensive climate change mitigation plan because it cannot be ignored that farmers are the ones who mostly bear the brunt of cli-mate change. He also called on renewed commitment by Heads of State towards enhancing agriculture in Africa.

Delegates engaged in different work streams such as Agriculture Science, Edu-cation and Skills Development Agenda, In-puts and Inputs Policy, Food and Nutrition Security, Data, Monitoring and Evaluation and Mutual Accountability. From the work

streams, the following outcomes emerged; more attention needs to be paid to women and youth in agriculture, preparing the youth to take over the fort from ageing farming population also emerged strongly from the working sessions and more en-gagement of parliamentarians, anchor CAADP at national level and focus on implementation. Increasing agricultural production and productivity by improving access to agricultural inputs, increase investment by 20% in agricultural land. Enhance women’s access to land and improving rural infrastructure as well as access to markets. From the Food and Nutrition security it was agreed that all households in Africa must be food secure by 2025.Progress was noted since the ten years of CAADP and delegates from differ-ent countries were encouraged to maintain the momentum.

A book on Agriculture in Africa was also launched on the sidelines of the PP meet-ing, Ms Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, African Union Commission Commissioner Rural Economy and Agriculture said the book will help to make agriculture a point of debate. She also emphasised the important role to be played by the media in disseminating information about agriculture and CAADP. She went on to say that the Landscape has changed, the game has changed and there is more political engagement. Agriculture is back on the arena and there is a need for a cross sectoral approach because agriculture is not only limited to departments of agriculture.

In closing, Martin Bwalya, Head of CAADP NEPAD Planning and Coordinat-ing Agency (NPCA) said there is a rela-tionship between Africa and agriculture and the future of Africa lies in agriculture, a weak agriculture will weaken Africa’s growth. He said CAADP is a framework to which countries should align their policies, it’s our framework, Africa’s ownership of the future and Africa’s development. “It is Africa’s ownership, defining our future”.

Agricultural Development Finance Forum launched

April 2014 DAFFnews No. 4 12

Sector

Duma, the German Shepherd puppy who is growing up with rhino calves at The Rhino Orphanage with the aim of training him to detect orphaned calves in the field, is showing great potential.

He is not only learning the scents and sounds associated with rhino calves, but he is also learning to read their body language and get out of the way when necessary – a very important survival skill!

At the moment, he is very attached to Nyani, a calf born prema-turely and the two are almost inseparable.

That does not mean she does not charge him on occasion though! That is when he needs those survival skills!

We have not had an opportunity yet to test him in the field, but the groundwork has been laid.

Shaya, the Belgian Malinois kindly donated by Perdita and Ralf Lübbe-Scheuermann in Germany to Craig Spencer at Olifant’s West Nature Reserve, has done some incredible work since he arrived in South Africa in April last year. He became so good at finding spent bullets at rhino crime scenes (a critical aspect for forensics) that he became part of the Standard Operating Procedures for crime scenes in the area.

While out on patrol to locate rhinos, Shaya’s front leg got caught between two rocks, resulting in a broken elbow. He was admitted to the Bryanston Veterinary Hospital, where he underwent extensive surgery to try and save the leg, which involved an intricate system of bolts and plates. All went well – then the unthinkable happened two days later – somehow in the confines of his kennel at the vet, he man-aged to break the leg again – this time, above the initial break. Further surgery followed and he was confined to his kennel

Heggy is a 2 year old Belgian Malinois and Hitsch is a 1-year-old German Shepherd who shows huge enthusiasm for their work. Both dogs have mas-tered the art of searching, and Hitsch is already being imprinted on bullets.

These dogs will be placed in partnership with The Wilderness Foundation at rhino reserves in the Eastern and Western Cape. They are being trained to detect rhino horn, ivory, arms and ammunition and will be used at roadblocks, park gates and to search suspects’ houses etc.

Vito is the sniffer dog for the Waterberg. The third new sniffer dog will be working in the Waterberg as part of the Save the Waterberg Rhino initiative. This initiative, founded by Ant and Tessa Baber, Victoria Crake and Gustav Collins after the poach-ing of two of the Baber’s rhinos, encour-ages people in the Waterberg Biosphere to work together.

As part of their security initiatives, they conduct regular roadblocks and on hear-ing of the effectiveness of sniffer dogs realised what value a dog could add to their security efforts. The dog would need to be trained to detect rhino horn, ivory, arms and ammunition and copper wire – there is a huge problem with wire being stolen in the area, and often the same people are involved in these various crimes.

at the vet for the next two months, while the vets assessed his rehabilitation.

However, it was finally decided that there was too much nerve damage and the very tough decision was made to amputate the leg. It is lucky he had been such a fit muscular dog which helped him adapt to his new circumstances.

So finally, after three months in hospital, Shaya was ecstatic to return home and to Craig. In true testimony to Shaya’s spirit and resolve, he shows little sign that he is in any way hampered by his disability and he has not forgotten his work – he is able to locate bullets just as well as he did before. We are confident that he will at least be able to continue providing a valuable service at crime scenes. Grateful thanks to the Bryanston Veterinary Hospital who provided first class veterinary care pro bono, and to Perdita and Ralf and their sponsors for raising the money to cover the outstanding veterinary bills.

Shaya the Belgian Malinois a true fighter

Heggy and Vito ready for

action

Duma the German Shepherd