Most recent news
2008-02-13: Agriculture and Eskom meet
The task team consisting of representatives from Agriculture and ESCOM
had its first meeting this morning in order to address the effect of
load shedding on Agriculture and to determine the way forward in finding
an amicable solution with the emphasis on the wine and deciduous fruit
industries as well as for the broader agricultural sector in the Western
Cape. Read more here....
2008-01-25: Power cuts detrimental to agriculture
MEC for Agriculture in the WEstern Cape, Cobus Dowry, and
representatives from the deciduous fruit, table grape and wine
industries, as well as organised agriculture in the Western Cape
met with senior officials from Eskom today to address the disastrous effects of load shedding on agriculture. A joint task team was created to address these issues. Read more here...
2007-11-23: 107 title deeds handed over to farmworkers
The Minister of Agriculture in the Western Cape, Cobus Dowry will hand
over 107 Title Deeds to farmworkers of the Oaks Village Association on
the farm of the Molteno Brothers in Elgin, tomorrow, 23 November 2007. This is an Historic occassion as it earmarks the start of the program
by the Department of Land Affairs, Agriculture and Producers to
establish Agri-Villages for farmworkers in the Western Cape. Read full release here; Read speech delivered at the event here.
2007-11-20: Media release after accident involving farmworkers in De Doorns
On behalf of the Department of Agriculture and the Government of the
Western Cape, I would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the
families and next of kin of the farm workers who were killed and injured
in the accident near De Doorns last night.
2007-10-31: R20 million assistance to drought stricken farmers
I am pleased to announce that the Western Cape Department of Agriculture has secured R20 million from the National Department of Agriculture to come to the assistance of drought stricken farmers in the Central Karoo area. Read full release here.
2007-09-18: PRRS outbreak in Western Cape confirmed. - Read more
2007-09-18: PRRS outbreak in Western Cape confirmed.
The Minister of Agriculture of the Western Cape, Mr. Cobus Dowry announced that tests done at Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute and the Foot and Mouth Disease Research Centre indicate the diagnosis of (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) PRRS or commonly known as Blue-ear Disease of pigs, on several pig farms in the Boland, Malmesbury and Worcester areas of the Western Cape Province.
All positive and suspect farms have already been placed under quarantine and a movement ban of pigs from these farms has already been instituted. The existing issuing of red cross permits for all other pig movements is still in force and farmers are requested to continue applying for these from their
local State Veterinary Office. Read
more....
Read more about the disease
hereClose
2007-09-03: Rabies Week 3-8 September: DoA provides vaccinations - Read more
2007-09-03: Rabies Week 3-8 September: DoA provides vaccinations Rabies is fully preventable and yet results in thousands of human deaths per year. According to the World
Health Organization an estimated 55 000 human deaths occur worldwide per year due to canine rabies,
accounting for 1 death and 300 exposures every 15 minutes. Almost all human fatalities occur in
developing countries with 56% occurring in Asia and 44% in Africa. In Africa a great number of human
rabies deaths occurs year-after-year, seemingly unnoticed. Rabies is primarily a disease of children, who
are particularly at risk due to their close contact with dogs, and are more likely than adults to suffer
multiple bites and bites to the face and head, both of which impose a higher risk of contracting rabies.
The Department of Agriculture vaccinates animals across the Province during the Rabies week in previously disadvantaged communities. The full programme for the week is available
here. Read more about Rabies and its effects
here.
Close
2007-07-12: Avian Influenza in Germany: An outbreak of highly pathogenic notifiable avian influenza (‘bird flu’), caused by the H5N1 subtype of the virus was reported in Thuringen, Germany. The German Government placed the farm and the surrounding area under quarantine and destroyed 1000 domestic birds within a 3km radius of the outbreak to contain the disease.
More... Close
2007-07-03: Alcohol Abuse Forum The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has taken the lead in establishing a forum that will co-ordinate all future efforts and programs to assist the Farm Worker Community in our fight against alcohol and substance abuse.
more
Close
2007-06-15: Heavy flooding in Swartland area - Read more
Heavy flooding in Swartland areaParts of the Swartland area received high intensity and constant
rainfall from the night of the 6th June to the 11th June 2007, which
caused flooding to the towns of Moorreesburg, Hopefield, Vredenburg,
Piketberg, Porterville and the surrounding agricultural areas. This high
rainfall fell in a broad band from the mountains of Citrusdal to above
mentioned towns and figures of up to 120mm per day were recorded in
areas. This rainfall was on top of a relatively saturated soil profile,
which caused excessive run-off and soil erosion. This high rainfall has
caused an excessive volume of water run-off in the Bergriver and its
tributaries. These swollen rivers have started eroding their banks and
even changing their course causing extremely high erosion damage.
Download press release.Close
2007-06-12: Alcohol abuse in rural areas: the way forward - Read more
2007-06-12: Alcohol abuse in rural areas: the way forwardAt a recent conference held about alcohol abuse amongst farmworkers in rural areas recently, it was announded that the Department of Agriculture: Western Cape will take the lead in the establishing of a forum that will co-ordinate all future efforts and programs to assist the Farm Worker Community in our fight against alcohol and substance abuse. We will meet with the Department of Social Services during the third term of this year in an effort to take our campaign to he next level.
Download press release.
Close
2007-03-26: Outbreak of African Horse Sickness in Simondium- Read more
2007-02-08:Outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK - Read more
2007-02-08: Outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in the UK
An outbreak of highly pathogenic notifiable avian influenza (‘bird flu’), caused by the H5N1 subtype of the virus has killed 1500 turkeys on a farm in Suffolk, United Kingdom. The British Government placed the farm and the surrounding area under quarantine and has destroyed the turkeys to contain the disease. Download press release
Close
2007-02-08: Fast-forward for China-SA fruit and tobacco trade - Read more
2007-02-08: Fast-forward for China-SA fruit and tobacco trade
Four agreements on trade in plant commodities were signed on 6 February 2007 during the State visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to South Africa. This significant achievement is the product of much hard work done since 2002, and it provides major opportunities to farmers in both countries. For South African producers it means that table grapes and tobacco leaf could soon be exported to the People’s Republic of China. Download press release
Close
2007-02-07: Rabies diagnosed in a horse in Somerset West/Stellenbosch District -
Read more
2007-02-07: Rabies diagnosed in a horse in Somerset West/Stellenbosch DistrictOn 1st February we received a confirmed report from Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) of a positive case of Rabies in a horse on a farm between Somerset West and Stellenbosch. The horse was euthanased on 30th January and a full post mortem done at the Stellenbosch Veterinary Laboratory. The horse was an unstabled yearling which had been at pasture on the farm with a group of about 9 other horses for the last year or so. We suspect that it must have been bitten by a rabid carrier (possibly a bat–eared fox, several of which have lately been seen on the property) within the last few months. Read
Download press release
Close
2007-02-07: Joint media release by Agri-SA and NAFU SA -
Read more
2007-02-07: Joint media release by Agri-SA and NAFU SA
The executives of Agri SA and Nafu SA met yesterday in Pretoria to resolve the impasse that has arisen following Minister Lulu Xingwana's utterances regarding human rights abuses on farms. They confirmed their commitment to
co-operate on efforts to further the best interests of the agricultural sector and that of everyone involved. Read Download press release
Close
2007-02-06: MEC Cobus Dowry expresses shock at farm murder in Worcester -
Read more
2007-02-06: MEC Cobus Dowry expresses shock at farm murder in Worcester
I have learned with shock of the murder this morning of Mr Desmond Sterly (52) farm manager of the farm Ambiance in the Brandwag area near Worcester. I received the news this morning just before addressing the Grain SA Annual meeting at Elsenburg and the gathering had a moment of silence. Download press release
Close
2007-02-05:Minister meets Chinese delegation -
Read more
2007-02-05: Minister meets Chinese delegation
PRETORIA: The Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms Lulu Xingwana, together with Vise Minister Li Chuangqoing from the People’s Republic of China today signed four Protocols. The export of table grapes and tobacco from South Africa to China, and the import of apples and pears from China to South Africa. Download press release
Close
2007-01-29: Minister Lulu Xingwana met with MECs -
Read more
2007-01-29: Minister Lulu Xingwana met with MECs
Today, 29 January 2007, the Minister, Deputy Minister, and MECs of Agriculture and Land-related portfolios, met to review progress and outline priorities for the year. Among the key issues discussed, were evictions, inhumane treatment of farm workers, the killing of farmers and AgriBEE. Download press release
Close
2007-01-10: Unsubstantiated allegations of rape and assault: labour unions and NGO's must apologise - the community of Rawsonville the victim -
Read more
Unsubstantiated allegations of rape and assault: labour unions and NGO's must apologise - the community of Rawsonville the victimOn 13 September 2006 I have requested Mr Leonard Ramatlakane, Minister for Community Safety in the Western Cape to institute a high level SAPS investigation to investigate allegations of rape and assault by farmers against farm workers and also the complaints against SAPS in Rawsonville. This request followed damning newspaper reports and irresponsible and inciting statements by leaders of labour unions and NGO’s without one iota of substance to back the allegations. My request was accompanied by a report from Agri Western-Cape which I have asked for.
Download press releaseClose
Archive
