UPDATE: What Zuma was up to in Randfontein
Rand West City will now determine the price of cabbage. Pics of President Jacob Zuma here in Randfontein ...
President Jacob Zuma was in town to inspect the site of the Westonaria Agri-park at Donaldson Dam on Tuesday (11 April).
Read inital article here: Zuma is coming to town…
The Westonaria Agri-park uses state-of-the-art technology to grow vegetables and was launched in November last year. It was established as part of revitalising and transforming the rural economy in the Rand West City area as well as the greater South Africa.
Government seeks to establish Agri-parks in all 44 district municipality across the country.
Acting Gauteng premier, Barbara Creecy, explained how the West Rand is Gauteng’s western development corridor. She said the use of government’s corridor model is a means to evenly grow the economy to ensure wealth is equally distributed.
Gone are the days when the West Rand was a forgotten part of the province, she said.
She explained the area will now become a hub for agriculture, agro-processing and tourism in Gauteng.
Zuma said the Westonaria Agri-park is one of three partially operational sites in the country.
He said he is highly impressed by the progress at the Westonaria site and how young farmers are stepping up to the plate. He said government will support farmers in the programme for the next 10 years after which they will take full control.
“We want to see Agri-parks contribute to the economic growth of our country. With agriculture, you can’t go wrong,” Zuma said.
Zuma also mentioned due to the large yield of cabbage on the West Rand, the district will now call the shots on the price of cabbage for the rest of Gauteng.
To farmers in the Rand West City area he said, “Make our country proud of agriculture”.
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