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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 07 Aug 2008 Title: Govt to give more support to emerging farmers -------------------- By Michael Appel; tel: (012) 314-2419 Pretoria - Government is to intensify the support it provides to emerging farmers to increase local production as part of efforts to combat rising food prices and decrease its reliance on imports. During a briefing, following Cabinet's meeting on Wednesday, Government Spokesperson Themba Maseko said government will work to combat rising food prices through a number of interventions. "The rising food prices present a window for the development of a vibrant and sustainable agricultural programme to meet the country's food requirements and to make South Africa a net exporter of food. "The medium to long term strategies to deal with rising food prices include measures to increase the country's food production capabilities through support and strengthening of small and emerging farmers," he said. Some of the other interventions include the development of agricultural trade and tariff policies, the enhancement of freight rail infrastructure to support the movement of agricultural goods and the creation of food gardens by communities and households. "These are some of the measures needed to increase food production and strengthen the value chain with a view to reducing reliance on food imports," said Mr Maseko. He highlighted that Cabinet also clarified the role of the proposed National Food Control Agency that was announced by President Thabo Mbeki following the July Cabinet Lekgotla. This agency, he said, will not regulate food prices, but will rather deal with issues such as the strengthening of the agro-processing industry, food safety, sanitary and phyto-sanitary certification and promotion of industry exports. Mr Maseko said the legislative framework for the agency will be finalised by the end of March 2009 after consultation with all stakeholders. The name of the agency would also need to be changed, he said, as it denoted the agency would control food prices. With regard to the deadline for the closure of shelters for displaced foreign nationals, Cabinet noted that Gauteng and the Western Cape were making progress with the process of reintegration. "Although some challenges are being experienced in this regard, we remain optimistic that reintegration will succeed. "Government takes the opportunity to thank communities for welcoming back the victims of the xenophobic violence, and appeals once again to all communities, civil society, community and religious organisation to work with government to achieve reintegration," said Mr Maseko. Communications Minister Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri told reporters her department was pleased that Cabinet had approved the Digital Migration Policy for South Africa. "The process of converting from analog to digital signal is made necessary by developments in technology and is part of our developmental agenda, increasing access to information in indigenous languages," the minister said. Dr Matsepe-Casaburri said using digital signal; eight channels will be able to run on the current analogue signal of the SABC1 channel. South Africans can look forward to more free channels being added to the selection with plans for dedicated channels including education, health, youth, government and small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) channels the minister said. - BuaNews |
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