Johnathan Paoli
THE 13th Meeting of Brics Ministers of Agriculture started on Wednesday at the Euphoria Golf Estate in Mookgophong, Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality in the Waterberg District, Limpopo.
The meeting was hosted by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, with her counterparts from Brazil, Russia, India and China, among others.
Held under the theme, “Strengthening collaborations towards sustainable agricultural production and increasing productivity”, the meeting will seek to pursue issues of common interest relating to food security, climate change, rural development, economic challenges, poverty and population growth.
Brics has been described by the department as a mechanism that aims to promote development cooperation, security, peace and the establishment of a more equitable economic world.
“The overall aim of Brics agricultural cooperation is to improve access to food and increase comprehensive food production. The event will showcase rural development and climate change programmes,” the department said.
The meeting is hosted ahead of the 15th BricsSummit that will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg from the 22 to the 24 of August.
As the host nation, in showcasing the progress and strides South Africa has achieved over the years, this follows on from the Brics Road Show in Bloemfontein held in July, which was aimed at fostering meaningful debates, discussions, and conversations around the challenges and opportunities presented to provinces as investment destinations and to outline initiatives in terms of SMMME development and climate-smart technologies.
Included in the programme is a Climate Resilient Agriculture Seminar, directed by the Deputy Director-General of Agricultural Production, Biosecurity and Natural Resources Management, aimed at informing and educating those present about several issues and strategies in the field of more sustainable forms of agricultural production and development.
Topics range from natural resource management to the adaptation of breeding strategies and using crop and animal waste as a source for renewable energy production that could assist in addressing socio-economic challenges.
This year’s meeting is held in person, in contrast to the virtual 12th meeting, hosted by China in June, last year.
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