MEC Mase Manopole said the District Farmers Makgotla are designed to determine the different agricultural development opportunities within each district, and how the latest development programs can assist.
Speaking at the second leg of the District Farmers Makgotla in Upington, ZF Mgcawu District, MEC Manopole said: "Our Farmers across the province are confronted by disastrous climatic conditions. An opportunity should be granted to establish the latest mitigation models and determine a response with alternative agriculture and modern agricultural technology to become sustainable practitioners within the agricultural space."
She was accompanied by the ZF Mgcawu District Mayor, Cllr. Marius Louw.
MEC Manopole said the Makgotla will give the Department an opportunity to come up with structured, focused, measurable as well as resourced output "which will require monitoring, including an implementation plan which will be regularly reviewed by all of us."
The MEC further alluded that the Department will seek to establish a platform or forum to engage with all the farmers’ union on a periodic basis, "so that we can increase and strengthen our partnership in to the future."
"The Department must also deepen its relationship with all farmers and engage them consistently in all districts. This, should be done systematically and in a structured way at least every second month, " she concluded.