Mr Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, in response to the concern raised by Mr Van Rensburg with regard to the Zimbabwean land issue, I would like to remind him of a phrase in our Constitution. I quote:
We, the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of our past ...
While we are concerned about what is happening elsewhere, we should also ask ourselves what we should do to give real meaning to the phrase I quoted.
Agriculture in the Eastern Cape is characterised by the dominance of two systems, that is, the commercial land and developing sectors. The use of a geographic information system together with zoning have made it possible to identify the agricultural and farming potential across the province. Amongst other things, the data generated from this is specific, and in response to the particular environment, the following programmes have been made possible as a result of this system.
Firstly, we have the integrated livestock and crop development programme. This is a community development programme that promotes land care through natural resource conservation and the improvement of rural livelihoods. The strategy towards the survival and success of this programme focuses on co- operative work among farmers through their commodity groups, the provincial and national departments of agriculture, the private sector and research institutions.
Secondly, we have the Eastern Cape meat production and marketing strategy. This programme has been put in place solely for the purpose of addressing the problems faced by meat producers in the province. This programme is aimed at creating an environment where farmers have a reliable market with competitive prices, while at the same time providing a continuous supply to both local and international meat markets, thereby uplifting developing farmers in the process. The key to this programme is the provision of a marketing strategy that will benefit the producer and consumer simultaneously.
Thirdly, there is a co-operative movement in the province. A strong farmer organisation is the key to successful farming among developing farmers of the province. Development through agriculture is impossible if farmers are not organised. A small farmer registration unit was established in 1998 to organise the farmers into legal entities which include co-operatives and trusts.
The following indicates the number of co-operative movements that have been formed and registered so far in the different regions. In the central region, we have seven, in the eastern region of the Eastern Cape, there are six, in the East Griqualand region, there are two, and in the northern region, there are four.
Fourthly, there is a rapid impact programme. The status of this programme is geared towards infrastructure provision, poverty alleviation and job creation and production efficiency amongst the developing farmers. The following statistics are applicable across the province, as follows: poultry, 253 projects; communal gardens, 140; irrigation projects, 21; mixed projects, 3; piggeries, 83; and fencing, 11. This totals up to 521 projects. The strategy towards survival and the success of this programme lies in the co-operative work between farmers through their commodity groups, the provincial and national Departments of Agriculture, the private sector and research institutions.
The fifth programme is the Dhne Agriculture Development Institute. Its main function is to provide appropriate technology to the farming communities in the province through a back-up system to the extension officers. The institute is supposed to address practical problems facing both the developing and commercial farmers in this province through research works. It could be achieved through the use of farm demonstrations that respond to the community needs and problems. This programme serves as a technical resource centre for agriculture information.
The last programme, but not least, is the integration of extension and research. This extension service is the delivery wing of the department, because the successes and failure of the department are measured there. On its own, the directorate is toothless, as it strongly depends on the researched work. Its main function is to translate researched work into a form usable to farmers.
Malunga nekamva lamafama asakhasayo, iMpuma Koloni ibe nethamsanqa lokuthi iphumelele kukhuphiswano lwenkqubela-phambili yamafama asezilalini. Iphumelele phambili kubathabathi-nxaxheba abebengamakhulu amathathu. Loo mpumelelo yenze ukuba sinikwe izigidi ezingamakhulu amane, anamawaka amathathu, eerandi nguzwelonke ukuze kuncediswe ngayo kwinkqubela yamafama. Yonke loo nto iza kwenziwa ngomhla we-18 kuCanzibe eNgqushwa. Ndiqinisekile ukuba uMphathiswa uya kuba yinxalenye yaloonto. (Translation of Xhosa paragraph follows.)
[Concerning the future of emerging farmers, the Eastern Cape was fortunate to receive an award for the most improved village farmers. It came first out of 300 competitors. The award brought with it R400 003 000 from national Government to aid farming programmes. All that will happen on 18 May in Peddie. I am sure the Minister will be there.]
In conclusion, I would like to deal with the interesting question of the restitution programme. The following data has been provided by the Department of Land Affairs: We settled eight of the land claims we received in 1999. The land claims which are pending for 1999-2000 are 847. The land claims targeted for the year 2000 involve 25 different communities. The programme of land redistribution has been put on hold since the appointment of the new Minister, due to a policy shift in this programme.
As a result, a moratorium was in place, and is likely to be lifted towards the end of April, when the new policy will be in place. We are commending the new commissioner in the Eastern Cape, Mr Gwanya. In a short space of time he has taken some huge strides, hoping for the best.
We are also happy that the West Bank communities are starting to enjoy the fruits borne by the freedom achieved through their struggle to regain the land which was taken from them through the barrel of a gun, or through the Forced Removal Act of 1913. [Applause.]