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LATEST NEWS

Female Entrepreneur of the year awards


Harnessing Women's Talent for Sustainable Food Security: A Vision Beyond 2030

All female entrepreneurs in die agricultural sector are hereby invited to apply for the Female Entrepreneur Awards.

For more information click on the images below.

PLEASE NOTE: the provincial closing date is: 31 May 2013.

WCDA FEA


WCDA FEA


2013/05/21

Van Rensburg concerned about Agriculture Dialogue Sessions


Statement by Gerrit van Rensburg, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

"I am concerned about the effectiveness of National Government's Dialogue Sessions with the agricultural sector in the Western Cape. The first Session was in Paarl in February, and the second Session was this Saturday in De Doorns. The Paarl session was well attended, but in De Doorns the stakeholder meeting was poorly attended. Nothing concrete has happened since the Paarl session, and Saturday once again resulted in vague promises without substance. Download the full media release here.

Contact: Wouter Kriel, 021 483 4700, 079 694 3085,
Wouter.kriel@westerncape.gov.za

13/05/2013

Awaiting your Bursary Applications for 2013


The Western Cape Department of Agriculture will be awarding comprehensive bursaries to qualifying applicants pursuing and/or intending to further their studies in critical scarce skills in agriculture in the 2013 academic year.

For more information click on the advertisements below and download the application form here.

elsenburg cellar elsenburg cellar


2013/05/08

Elsenburg's cellar's extreme make-over


The cellar building at Elsenburg dates back to 1904 and approximately 80% of winemakers in the industry received their training here. Over the years most of the available funds were allocated to keeping up with the latest technology of the time concerning machinery and equipment, which meant little maintenance was done.

While Elsenburg continued to offer the best practical training in the industry, the building started to show its age. An extreme makeover was due. This was already evident ten years ago, but funds for maintenance were never enough to make a significant impact.

In 2011 the icon of the wine industry was awarded the funding that it deserved by the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works and renovations to the amount of R7 million started. Mr Gerrit van Rensburg, MEC of Agriculture and Rural Development also highlighted that "the Cellar on Elsenburg is central, and absolutely essential, to our wine making and cellar technology study programmes. There is a very important element of practical experience that is needed in the study to become a wine maker, and we would not have been able to supply the wine industry with promising new talent without this infrastructure."

It was indeed an extreme make-over from top to bottom, literally. The roof, ceiling, walls and floors were revamped. New roofing, new drainage system, epoxy flooring, etc. Nothing was overlooked, not even the laboratory, storerooms, electricity and cold rooms. Truly amazing. Included in the revamp were eight new stainless steel combi-tanks as well as four concrete eggs, correctly known as Nomblot vessels. The renovations were completed just in time for the 2012 harvest.

Minister van Rensburg were very impressed with the added value that the revamp brougth, saying "the renovations have resulted in us regaining our Environmentally Friendly Wine Making Accreditation. (Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) accreditation from Wine and Spirits Board of South Africa) This is very important, especially in the context of the Provincial Government's commitment towards a green economy."

This also afforded the vineyard the opportunity to be accredited with BWI (biodiversity and Wine Initiative) recognition. This is only possible when both cellar and vineyard has IPW accreditation and the farm has a significant area of land dedicated to conservation of the natural biodiversity. Add to this, the class of 2012 won 9 medals at the Young Wine Show. One gold, four silver, four bronze as well as a trophy for best in the Cinsaut class.

The cellar is now fully updated and geared to give the best winemaking training as well as to make award-winning wine, as indicated. A function was also held on the to showcase the cellar revamp to all stakeholders and industry role-players as well as to say thank you to all that was involved in this wonderful project.

Minister van Rensburg, who delivered the key note address at the function concluded by saying "this building, together with the talented and hard working staff of the College is a direct investment in agriculture. We are creating job opportunities. We are also training the workers to grab these opportunities and fly with them."


elsenburg cellar
PHOTO: Minister Gerrit van Rensburg with André Landman and Madré Fullard

2013/05/03

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Climate Change

The Department of Agriculture Western Cape accepts that climate change is a reality and that urgent interventions and adaptations are required, especially with regards to water management strategies, biodiversity protection and resource management strategies. This link leads to a resource for all provincial reports and links to activities relating to climate change.

Services

Special interest

Media

At the Department of Agriculture, much information can be downloaded by using the following links:

Calculate your carbon footprint

Confronting Climate Change - A South African Fruit & Wine Initiative


A carbon calculator tool for the Fruit and Wine Industry is available by clicking on the image.



Training & Youth

Elsenburg Institute for Agricultural Training

Agricultural training is offered by the Department at the ELSENBURG Agricultural Training Institute.






bursary















Check out what agriculture offers in terms of career opportunities here.

EXTERNAL BURSARY PROGRAMME
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture awards bursaries to students studying full-time at a registered Further and Higher Educational Institution towards obtaining a SAQA registered qualification in the Agricultural sector.
Please note: only applications in response to an advertisement, will be considered.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAMME
Please note: only applications in response to an advertisement, will be considered.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
Please note: only applications in response to an advertisement, will be considered.

Subsistance and Small Holder Farmers


Land reform enquiries
Food gardens - we can help you set up a food garden




Ministry of Agriculture


Programmes

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Department's Organogram


Research Snippets


Research Snippets gives you a regular short and conscise update on all recent research results and general management practices in order to increase efficiency and production. It will mainly cover the following fields: sheep; milk herds; ostriches and aquaculture. Research Snippets can be downloaded here.

Navorsing Brokkies gee jou op 'n gereelde basis kort beriggies oor navorsings resultate of algemene bestuursaspekte met die uitsluitlike doel om die algehele doeltreffendheid van produksie te verhoog. Dit sal die velde skape, melkbeeste, volstruise en akwakultuur insluit. Navorsing Brokkies kan hier afgelaai word.



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