MEDIA STATEMENT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHALLENGES OF AGRO-PROCESSING WILL BE ON THE SPOTLIGHT WHEN PROVINCES MEET IN THE NC.

Various Provinces will converge in the Northern Cape to tackle challenges of agro-processing in the country from the 16th till the 18th.

The three day agro-processing workshop is the 18th National Agro-processing Forum (NAF), and seeks to ensure alignment and coordination of agro-processing development initiatives amongst the three spheres of Government. And also to leverage synergies and promote greater Master Plan for successful implementation.

The theme is “Unpacking the Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan for successful implementation”.

In consistent with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 as amended, specifically Section 40 and 41, further the Inter-Governmental Relations Framework (IGR, 2005), the National Agro-processing Forum was established in 2014.

Various topics such as, Background and the Rationale of the Agriculture & Agro-processing Master Plan, Unpacking the commercial enablers for sustainable and inclusive development, Human Resources to enhance the competitive performance of the agro-processing industry, the intervention pillars to unlock the competitiveness and the performance of the agro-processing and the Alignment with poultry, sugar and the cannabis master plan to mention just few.

The functions of the NAF are as follows;

• Operationalize the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP)
• Facilitate implementation of the agro-processing initiatives articulated in the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP).
• Promote and encourage alignment of policy, strategy and programmes amongst various agro-processing government actors.
• Exchange experience and share lessons on best practice agro-processing development models.
• Ensure multi-institutional programmes and project planning and execution, and
• Foster partnerships and strengthen communications amongst stakeholders.

The workshop will wind-up its business by visiting two agro-processing plants in Warrenton, Hartswater and the Vaalharts Research Station in Jan Kemp Dorp.