TO: ALL EDITORS

RE: MEC JOEMAT-PETTERSSON EMBARKS ON THREE-NATION

EUROPEAN TOUR FOR FUNDS

EMBARGO: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 25 JUNE 2004

The co-operation agreement between the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape Department’s of Agriculture is set for a cash injection that will grant it much needed impetus. The Northern Cape’s MEC for Agriculture and Land Reform Tina Joemat-Pettersson, her Western Cape counterpart Minister Cobus Dowry and officials from the three provinces have embarked on a three-nation European Tour to solicit funds for the agreement. A series of meetings have been scheduled with key funders and agricultural ministers in the Netherlands, Belgium and United Kingdom. Negotiations will start on Monday 28 June and end on the July 07 2004.

A proposal for international donor funding was drawn up, taking into cognizance that the provincial budgets would not be able to absorb extensive traveling that is to be undertaken across provincial borders by officials. The trip would also assist with the establishment of working links with expert partners in the field of research, veterinary services, capacity building and agricultural economics. Some of the key bodies to be visited includes the Department for International Development, European Union’s Brussels office, Warwick Horticultural Research Institute and Solsoe Research Institute.

Collaboration in the agreed areas of co-operation would extensively enhance service delivery in the field of training, exports, food safety and food security. The provinces have agreed to co-operate in areas such as; the training of emerging farmers and farm workers, exchange of expertise in veterinary services, delivery of specialized technology development and transfer services, training of trainers and promotion of agri-tourism. The co-operation declaration was signed in August 2002 between the Premier’s of the three provinces followed by the establishment of a joint group that made recommendations on technical co-operation. END

Source : Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform

Enquiries: Thabo Mothibi @ 083 255 8840 / tmothibi@grand.ncape.gov.za