Agri-Parks Programme to empower smallholder farmers: Zuma

President Zuma delivered the keynote address during a site visit to the Westonaria Agri-Park.

Government said the Agri-Parks Programme has become the cornerstone of its plans to revitalise agriculture and agro-processing value chain, which is also one of the priorities of government's Nine-Point Plan.

"It is, furthermore, the intention of the Agri-Parks Programme to ensure that farmers own at least 70 percent of the wealth-creation opportunities created by the programme," said President Zuma.

President Zuma said the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, working together with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and other spheres of government, has embarked on rolling out the Agri-Parks Programme to all 44 districts in the country.

"Most importantly, the programme forms part of our investment in the development of smallholder farmers so that they can move from the informal sector towards greater integration and participation within the mainstream, commercial agricultural economy," said President Zuma.

President Zuma said Westonaria is one of three partially operational sites. 

"I am highly impressed with the progress made by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Municipalities and the farmers in developing this Agri-Park," said President Zuma.