Order! Order! Order!
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Today the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, is having a binational meeting with the South African government, and it is expected of me to leave an international meeting, which is of critical importance for us as a country, in order to attend a portfolio committee meeting at the behest of the DA!
The DA and the media will never run the agenda of transformation in agriculture. [Applause.] Agriculture will not be determined by the media and the DA.
Food production schemes, from the smallest backyard lot to school and community gardens, as the smallholder farmers themselves have said over the past two days, as well as co-operative schemes, have been our major response to the challenges of household food security. I am happy that we have seen remarkable differences, with ample evidence of the effectiveness of such schemes. Of course, more needs to be done and everything is not perfect. However, they are effective in regard to growing food, which is our first priority. Poverty and inequality are addressed through better nutrition and use of income. The country gains as a result.
In fact, we would not really need a debate on the effectiveness of such schemes if the DA, or the opposition, had nurtured and developed black farmers in the past. These schemes have shown themselves to be successful in the developing world.
I would like to thank the hon chairperson of the portfolio committee for highlighting this matter and calling for this debate. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.