The Department of Agriculture, in a roundtable on Wednesday with youth at the Agricultural Research Council in Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch, Western Cape said that the future of the agriculture sector lies with the youth. The Department noted that Agriculture remains a cornerstone to food security.
Image: Supplied Department of Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture, in a roundtable on Wednesday with youth at the Agricultural Research Council in Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch, Western Cape said that the future of the agriculture sector lies with the youth. The Department noted that Agriculture remains a cornerstone to food security.
Mooketsa Ramasodi, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, said in his remarks that the event forms part of a series of the Department's Youth Month commemoration activities, through which they honour the contribution of young people to the development of the country and reaffirm their commitment to investing in the next generation of leaders, innovators, and agricultural entrepreneurs.
“This occasion provides us with an opportunity not only to celebrate the energy, creativity, and potential of our youth, but also to reflect on the enduring legacy of the Soweto Uprising, a defining moment in South Africa’s journey towards freedom and democracy,” he added.
Ramasodi noted that as the nation commemorated the 50th anniversary of this historic uprising, the country paid special tribute to the courage, resilience, and unwavering determination of the youth of 1976, whose sacrifices helped secure the rights and opportunities that many generations enjoy today. “As the Department of Agriculture, we recognize that the future of our agricultural sector rests in the hands of young people. Agriculture remains a cornerstone to food security, economic growth, rural development, and job creation.”
Ramasodi said that it is imperative that the Department, in collaboration with the industry role players, create an enabling environment in which young people can access land, skills development, technology, financing, and market opportunities to participate meaningfully in the agricultural value chain. “The spirit demonstrated by the youth of 1976 challenges us to empower today's youth to become drivers of innovation and transformation within the agricultural sector.”
Ramasodi noted that their determination reminds South Africa that meaningful progress is achieved when young people are given the opportunity, support, and confidence to turn challenges into opportunities. “Let us honour the legacy of those who came before us by renewing our commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural sector that attracts, nurtures, and empowers young people to become active contributors to South Africa's growth and prosperity.”
Ramasodi concluded that it is through the participation and leadership of young people that we can cultivate not only the fields that feed our nation but also a future marked by shared prosperity, food security, and sustainable development.
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