A citrus project in the Cape region of South Africa has received the backing of Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
He was speaking at the launch of the Harvest of Hope publication, which celebrates the success of Black Economic Empowerment initiatives in the citrus industry in the Cape region.
“For some years now, I have been following the progress on the transformation of the citrus industry in the Western Cape,” said Tutu. “On these farms, people are not only sharing ownership in agricultural enterprises, but their whole communities share in the social structures which have been built up around these farms. Through partnership with commercial farmers they share in technology and skills transfer, and this puts them on the road to success.”
Harvest of Hope (launch pictured) tells the story of 14 empowerment projects across the Western and Northern Cape, all of which are successful citrus exporters that have welcomed workers as co-owners in commercial agriculture. The publication was handed over to special guests during a tour of some of the projects in Citrusdal, the heartland of the Cape citrus industry last week
“I have visited Citrusdal previously and noted the partnerships that people like the Van der Merwes and their workers have formed to create ownership and a better future for all who work on these farms. Other well-known farming families in the Western Cape, people such as the Moutons, Vissers, Van Zyls, Lategans, Naudes and Neethlings, are doing the same,” said Tutu.
“Let’s all rise to the challenge that these partnerships and the tasks of being successful fruit growers will no doubt present to us. The responsibility rests on us to make the most of these wonderful opportunities and pray that God will guide us and fill us with strength to fulfil the huge promise that lies ahead.”
Gerrit van der Merwe, chairman of the Western Cape Citrus Producers’ Forum, said: “It is clear for all to see that the citrus growers of the Cape fully embrace the government’s vision of rapid transformation and creating ownership for the workers of the industry.”
No comments yet