speeches
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Speech for Mr Narend Singh, Minister of Agriculture for KwaZulu-Natal, at the Dinner of the Natal Branch of the NWGA
Mr Japie Cilliers, President of the National Wool Growers’ Association;
Mr Jannie Kemp, President of the Natal Branch of the NWGA;
Mr Frank Bishop of the Wool Trust who will be delivering the speech of the evening;
Mr Gunther Beier of Beier Wool, and generous sponsor;
Ladies and gentlemen, I greet you all.
It is a great honour for my wife and me to have been invited to attend the dinner of the Annual Congress of the Natal Branch of your Association. We thank you for your invitation.
Skaapboerdery in KwaZulu-Natal
What makes this, my first meeting with your Association very special for me, and I hope memorable for you, is that I am now able to honour a promise that my Department made to your Association several years ago.
Last week, my Department took delivery of the long-awaited translated publication; Skaapboerdery in KwaZulu-Natal. In describing to me the anxious history and the and frequent delays which had beset this long-awaited publication, the officers of my Department who had been most concerned with its appearance, assured me that all the problems of the long gestation period were now a thing of the past. I can assure you, the sheep farmers of KwaZulu-Natal, that the jubilation on their part was something to behold. I am certain that I shall be acting in accordance with your wishes, if I convey your thanks to them
Not only is Skaapboerdery, a translation of Sheep in Natal, but it also is a completely revised and updated text, of 222 pages, and consisting of 55 individual leaflets or chapters, which are divided into eight major sections which cover:
- sheep and veld management
- reproductive management
- nutrition
- breeding principles
- wool production
- meat production
- health management
- handling facilities
Skaapboerdery is the first publication in the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Production Guidelines series to be based on the new Bioresource Group approach. This approach replaces the Bioclomatic group approach which was used in the past. To explain, and to facilitate access to, this new concept, a detailed leaflet is included which clarifies the concept and explains the groups. It is illustrated by means of a large full-colour map of the Province.
I am certain that some of you are already wanting to know how you can get a copy of Skaapboerdery. Let me assure you, that there already exists within my Department a file of the names and addresses of those who had requested copies of this publication, and that a copy will be sent to each person on the list. Should you be uncertain of whether your name is on the list, please check with Mr Hannes de Villiers, who is well-known to the members of the Natal Branch of the NWGA. May I suggest that this be left till tomorrow morning, so that we all can concentrate on enjoying the dinner tonight.
Sheep in Natal
Our earlier publication, Sheep in Natal, which appeared in 1991, although now out of print, still is in great demand. I understand that this publication is now high on the list for yet further updating and publication as a revised edition. It is my wish that it may have a quicker delivery than did Skaapboerdery.
In the production of both these publications, my Department was encouraged and supported by sheep farmers and members of the sheep and wool industry. To me this strength and unity within, and across the spectrum of all role players, in each of our agricultural enterprises is a characteristics that we must retain and develop yet further.
Importance of the Wool Sheep Task Teams
In this regard, I would appeal to all sheep farmers to make contact with the members of the two Wool Sheep Task Teams, and to continue to give them your support. I believe that these two Task Teams have a vital role to play as liaison between the farmers of this Province and my Department in terms of both research and extension. My Department exists to serve all the farmers of this Province, but to do this efficiently and effectively, we need the guidance of, and inputs from the farmers, so that we can meet their needs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mr National President, and Mr President of the Natal Branch, may I hand each of you a copy of Skaapboerdery in KwaZulu-Natal, and I assure you of my Department’s continuing support of the Wool Sheep Task Teams.
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