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Spotlight on green economy at Agri Indaba

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The Western Cape Economic Opportunities Department says it is focusing on developing a green economy which will be more resilient against harsh weather conditions.

Delegates gathered at the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the African Agri Investment Indaba on Tuesday to look at challenges the sector is facing in Africa.

The potential of agriculture on food security and investment into Africa were some of the issues discussed at the conference.

Western Cape Economic Opportunities Minister, Alan Winde, says they want to develop a green economy against climate change.

He says they are working hard to find ways for the agricultural sector to adapt to the current drought.

“Looking at climate change, looking at smart agri, how do we farm differently and I think there are opportunities coming out of it. And the drought, you can see the business oppurtunities coming with recycling of grey water, in irrigation systems using renewable resources. You know, there are lots of opportunities and I think specifically in tech now with the management of water,” says Winde.

Despite the harsh weather conditions, exports from the Western Cape into Africa totalled R45-billion with a further R36-billion of exports going into Europe last year.

The National Agriculture Department says the sector has the potential to create one million jobs for South Africans.

Chief Director of Food Security, Dr Jemina Moeng, says the sector remains resolute, despite dry weather conditions in some provinces.

She says jobs will be created through the National Development Plan.

“Especially your unskilled work whereby people just have to harvest for instance, harvest your grapes, because those need to be handheld, your normal fruit. And we have been requested by the National Development Plan to create one million jobs as a sector, but will be contributing towards the one million jobs,” says Dr Moeng.

The two day conference ends on Wednesday.

 

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