The department of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism has reported a renewed focus on agro-processing in the province.
In a recent report, the department communications manager Ncedo Lisani said the sector goals were integrated agro-industry sector development through stronger coordination and linkages for implementation in the priority value chains; an increased agro-industry sector contribution of 20% to the provincial GDP by 2022; an increase in the Gross Value Added of agricultural products produced in the Eastern Cape by 20% in 2022 and a 30% reduction of imports on agricultural foodstuffs into the Eastern Cape by 2022.
A major highlight in the last financial year was the Provincial Agro-Industry Development Planning Session where the government and the Agro industry met under one roof for the first time, Lisani said.
During the sessions stakeholders had presented their strategies and their available programmes.
“The intention of the session was to establish a common thread for the creation of linkages as well as prioritisation of initiatives and projects. Work is under-way towards the finalisation of the plan which is to be presented to the Provincial Executive for creating a common agenda for focused sector development in the province” the report stated.