WESTERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE GIVES R14.98 M TO CITRUSDAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATION TO MITIGATE FUTURE FLOOD DAMAGE
On Saturday, 17 August 2024, Dr Ivan Meyer, the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, handed over R14.98 m to the Citrusdal Water Users Association. Dr Ruben Richards, Executive Mayor of Citrusdal, and Mr Boffie Strydom, Executive Mayor of the West Coast District Municipality, accompanied Minister Meyer. Both expressed their gratitude to the Western Cape Government (WCG) for responding to farmers’ plight following severe flood damage to agriculture in the area. The funds will mitigate future flood damage to...
THE PORT OF CAPE TOWN IS IMPORTANT TO WESTERN CAPE’S AMBITIOUS PLANS TO CREATE BREAKOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOBS
On Monday, 12 August 2024, Dr Ivan Meyer, the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, met with Transnet’s Port of Cape Town management. At the meeting, Minister Meyer emphasised the Port of Cape Town’s (PoCT) importance as the Western Cape’s paramount export hub, underscoring its pivotal role in the province’s ambitious plans to achieve breakout economic growth to combat poverty and create jobs. Minister Meyer said, “The Western Cape Government’s (WCG) Growth for Job strategy aims to create a...
MINISTER MEYER OPENS 9TH WORLD CONGRESS ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE
On the 22 July 2024, the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, officially opened the 9th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture in Cape Town. Conservation agriculture is a farming system that promotes minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and plant species diversification (crop rotation). It enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface, increasing water and nutrient use efficiency and improving and sustaining crop production. Professor Johann Strauss, the chairperson of the local...
WORLD MILK DAY 1 JUNE 2024: WESTERN CAPE MILK PRODUCTS TO THE RESCUE
In celebration of World Milk Day 2024, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (DOA) would like to celebrate the dairy industry and acknowledge the critical role of milk as an essential food product and a "food hero". During the Covid-19 pandemic, the DOA partnered with the Milk Producers’ Organisation for Project One, donating milk worth R100 000 from its research dairies at Elsenburg and Outeniqua to those in need. Similarly, following the recent George building disaster, milk products valued at...
SOUTH AFRICAN FLORA BLOOMS AGAIN AT THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW IN LONDON
Following a partnership between Cape Flora SA (CFSA) and the Western Cape Government, CFSA Board Member and Managing Director of De Fynne Nursery near Paarl, Jacky Goliath will be flying the flag for both upcoming and commercial cut flower producers of South Africa at the Chelsea Flower Show which opens in London today, 21 May 2024. This international flower show, hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society, is internationally acclaimed and attracts thousands of international visitors annually. South African fynbos displays have won...
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL VETERINARY LABORATORY (PVL) RE-OPENS TO SERVE THE CITIZENS WITH ENHANCED CAPACITY
Yesterday, 6 May 2024, the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer, opened the newly renovated and upgraded Provincial Veterinary Laboratory (PVL) in Stellenbosch. “This is a moment for celebration by the Western Cape veterinary community as it ushers in an enhanced level of services to the agricultural sector by this government”, said Minister Meyer, adding that the PVL, which celebrates its 51st anniversary this year, “is poised to continue its vital role in safeguarding animal health and public welfare.” “This...
WESTERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S AGRI-PROCESSING FACILITY ACHIEVES FSSC 22000 ACCREDITATION
Photo: Mr Maliviwe Makeleni, Senior Economist, Dr Ilse Trautmann, Deputy Director-General: Agricultural Research and Regulatory Services, Mr Darryl Jacobs, Acting Head of Department, Terri-Lee Kammies, Lead Auditor and Certification Body Manager at QSCERT-SA, Londiwe Thabethe, Head of Marketing and AgriBusiness, Ms Bongiswa Matoti, Programme Manager: Agricultural Economic Services and Mr Zaa-id Rinquest, Food Scientist. On 25 April 2024, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) celebrated a significant milestone as the Agri-Processing Hub, situated at Elsenburg, attains the prestigious Food Safety...
Backyard Chicken House
Food security is having reliable access to sufficient, affordable nutritious food, and here at Casidra, we walk the extra mile to achieve this by providing our communities with necessities in order to survive. On 30 April 2024, we received a newly assembled state-of-the-art chicken house with built-in feeders that will each accommodate 8-10 chicken layers to be distributed to our food security beneficiaries across the Western Cape. Households in the Province are provided with the basic requirements to start their chicken layer...
WESTERN CAPE SUPPORTS THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
Over the past five years, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) has supported 170 smallholder and commercial farmers. One of these is Chamomile Farming Enterprise, owned by Wadea and Achmat Brinkhuis. The farm was started in 2003 with 100 egg layers and has seen significant growth with the farm currently producing 30 000 eggs per day from 35 000 egg layers. The farm's eggs are distributed via Nu-laid who are responsible for the grading, sorting and distribution to the retail...