MoU to allow farmers to access Chinese market

Friday, February 24, 2017

Pretoria – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Entry and Exit Animal Inspection and Quarantine between South Africa and China will present an opportunity to smallholder farmers to access the Chinese market.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana will today sign the MoU and the Protocol on the Export of South African beef to China which will give effect to the exports of South African beef to China.

The Minister will sign the agreement with Chinese Vice Minister of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, LI Yuaping, during the launch of the Operation Phakisa on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development by President Jacob Zuma in Roodeplaat, Pretoria.

President Zuma announced during the State of the Nation Address on 9 February that South Africa would begin exporting beef to China this year. 

The agreement will further enhance and take forward the strong relations and strategic partnership between South Africa and China.
 
The signing will take place during the important launch of Operation Phakisa in Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development under the theme “Transforming the Agricultural Sector towards an Inclusive Rural Economy”.

The programme aims to enhance and transform the agricultural sector as well as accelerate land reform to ensure an inclusive rural economy.

Among other interventions, the programme reviews existing producer support models as well as development finance models aimed at fast tracking Land Reform to find workable solutions given the urgent need for government to make progress in land reform and food security.

Operation Phakisa on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development also seeks to address constraints in ensuring the equitable access to land, both towards economic development and agrarian transformation. – SAnews.gov.za