Agribusiness awards to attract youth in Gauteng

Briefing reporters about the award ceremony to be held on Tuesday, 25 June 2013, in Irene, outside Pretoria, Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said: "We view the participation of young people in the industry as critical because we need young people to grow the agricultural economy.

"We want to introduce them to the sector through the awards, so we believe they will realise that as government, we are taking them serious.

"Again, as the provincial government, we realise that we need young people to continue producing food for our people, continent and the world."

The MEC said the awards, which she wants to be introduced at a national level, will help government to increase youth participation in agricultural activities.

"It is befitting that government hosts these awards in June, being the month in which we commemorate and celebrate the struggle of the youth of 1976, to celebrate and acknowledge young people in the agricultural sector," she said.

The aim of the inaugural awards is to appeal to progressive agribusiness as well as encouraging food security, agro-processing initiatives and trade and export.

According to the MEC, the awards will have nine categories which are Best Youth Worker; Best Homestead Food Garden; Best Community Garden Project; Best Young Disabled Agri-business of the Year; Best Agri-business youth of the Year: Informal Markets: Livestock; Best Agri-business youth of the Year: Informal Markets: Crops; Best Agri-business Youth of the Year: Formal Markets; Best Agri-business youth of the Year: Export Markets; Best Agri-business Youth of the Year: Processing and the overall winner. - SAnews.gov.za