Subject for discussion:Expanding Agricultural Production to Achieve Food Security As Well As the New Growth Path Target of 300 000 New Smallholder Agricultural Producers by 2020 Contribution by Mkhuleko Hlengwa MP28 October 2014, Houses of Parliament Honourable Speaker –
The IFP welcomes the opportunity to participate in this important discussion because it speaks to the very heart of the realities of poverty and therefore today we must call a spade a spade, and a shovel a shovel. At the outset we must not make the mistake of thinking that 2020 is some distant destination; 2020 is now, it is today. People are hungry today. The food shortage is today. The targets and objectives as spelled out in the New Growth Path must not become a lullaby to allay the anxieties of our people; but rather become a daily pursuit.
During the budget vote debate on 16 July 2014, I said “We [the IFP] will support efforts geared towards the revitalisation of the agriculture industry to give rise to job creation, poverty eradication, hunger alleviation, nation building and social cohesion. The department is strategic and well positioned to be a worthy vehicle in which we can travel to as we seek strive to get South Africa working.
