MEDIA ADVISORY
Tues. 20March 2007
NW youth meet to converse their involvement in Agricultural activities.
Vryburg – More thanthree hundred young people from all over the North West province are expected to attend a two-day longProvincial Youth in Agriculture Summit that will be held at VryburgHigh Schoolnext week. The Provincial Summit follows the mini summits that were hosted in various provincial districts early this month.
The idea behind the summit is to ensure that government, through the department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment attains its mandated goals of Sustainable Agriculture and taking a lead in Rural Development, with regard to the youth.
“The department wants to assure young people of its support and commitment in assisting or guiding them on how to proactively advance their careers in agriculture. In our recent district summit, youth apathy in agriculture was noted as a serious concern and we are optimistic that from the ideas that will be brought forward during the forthcoming provincial summit, this concern will be a thing of the past”, explained MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Mr Mandlenkosi Mayisela.
With the theme, Renewing our Pledge by Deepening Youth Participation in Sustainable Agriculture, the department in partnership with the provincial Youth Commission, intends to encourage youth to be active in matters relating to Agriculture.
The Youth Commissioner in Agriculture, Mr Final Kgodumo, says the recognition of young people and their involvement in decision making in youth development matters is crucial in offsetting the worrying factor of their minimal participation in agricultural matters. “The Youth Commission regards this exercise as achallenge to young people to start taking their future very serious, and make use of the existing opportunities in agriculture” stressed Mr Kgodumo.
The targeted youth categories for the summit are unemployed youth graduates, young people from existing youth projects, organized agricultural youth clubs, young farmers from white communities and rural youth with passion for agriculture.
Relevant stakeholders will make presentations outlining opportunities that are targeted at youth.
There are currently more than 30 youth agricultural projects in the province and the intention of the Department and the Youth Commission is toequip young people with interest in agriculture, with adequate information to inspire them to better their lives through agriculture.
The Provincial Youth in Agriculture Summit will be held at Vryburg High School in the Bophirima District, from the 29th to 30th March 2007, starting at 08h00.
Members of the media are invited.
END
Issued by DACE Communication Directorate
Contact : Ms Lesego Mncwango
018 389 5768 / 078 459 5981
OR
Ms Bonolo Mohlakoana
018 389 5459 / 083 504 3874