DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE International Relations in Agriculture Presentation by the Department of Agriculture to the Portfolio Committee 22 nd February, 2005

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Context  South Africa’s Foreign Policy and Strategic Medium Term and Annual Cabinet /International Relations Peace and Security [IRPS] Cluster priorities;  Cabinet priorities for 2004 – 2005/06 include:- -Consolidation of the African Agenda; -South South Cooperation; -Reform of the United Nations System; -Reform of the World Trading System -Peace and Security;

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Developing an Agricultural Strategy  Post 1994 elections and peace agreement dividends in Africa put an increased demand on the technical capacity, governance and commercial experience of South African Agriculture;  Reform of the trading environment processes with a new emphasis on free and fair trade requiring strategic positioning of exports strategy;  Need to maximize training opportunities of new scientists and adopt new concepts;

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Developing an Agricultural Strategy  Adhoc, reactive approach within the department to increased international activities – required a more streamlined approach and comprehensive – department wide strategy that is aligned with national priorities;  Revamped International Relations Directorate;  Departmental Workshop held – to determine the focus of South Africa’s international engagement and priorities on Agriculture.

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Environmental Scan - Threats  Multilateralism under threat – security agenda competing with development agenda;  Increased movement of people, diseases, pests;  Regionalisation - increased need to cooperate on trade, ODA, technical assistance;  Proliferation of conventions and international agreements;  Failure to implement development round in WTO – threats of increased bilateral negotiation

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Environmental Scan - Opportunities  Movement of goods and services and Regionalisation – increased market opportunities  Greater linkages between Sustainable Development initiatives through 10 year Jhb Plan of Action [WSSD]  Proactive African conceived and led agenda: NEPAD an the Agricultural Sector Plan - CAADP  Increased South – South solidarity within multilateral rules based trading system, IBSA, G20

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Agricultural International Strategy AIM:  To represent South Africa’s agriculture interests through :- -the development and consolidation of bilateral relations [with special focus on Africa and South South Cooperation]; -engagement in multilateral institutions; -sourcing international assistance to contribute to delivery of the South African Agricultural priority programmes.

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Strategic Alignment Framework SA Constitution National Foreign Policy and Cabinet IRPS Priorities National Foreign Policy and Cabinet IRPS Priorities Department of Agriculture – Approved Key Result Areas Department of Agriculture – Approved Key Result Areas Agricultural Sector Strategy NEPAD CAADP Training Trade Technology Politics People Regions PRIORITIES

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Pillars  Trade - increased international trade  Technology – (and Research collaboration)  Training ( human resource development, mentorship and technical assistance)  Politics (establishment and consolidation of bilateral and multilateral relations at a high political level, and implementation of high level political initiatives)  People to People interaction (multi-stakeholder dialogue, farmer to farmer exchanges, academic collaborations, student exchanges etc).

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Values and Principles  Development focus;  Underpinned by Sector Approach;  Major focus on Africa;  Underlying principle - Regional prosperity in South Africa’s interests;  Long term view;  Informed by broader Government - national and foreign policy;  Inclusive of civil society.

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Summary of Strategic action plan  Distinct but mutually reinforcing - bilateral and multilateral approach;  Focused actions that support the pillars – trade; technology; training,  Strategic engagement in support of the pillars on politics and people;

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE SA Multilateral Engagement Proponent of Multilateralism; Greater participation in standards setting bodies; Greater coherence in implementation of conventions; Implementation of WSSD commitments; Fairer trade regimes, increased market access; Greater participation of developing countries; Strengthened positioning of Africa in multilateral processes and putting NEPAD on the agenda;

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE SA Bilateral Engagement  Work in clustered Regions which are not necessarily geographically defined;  Africa – a strategic priority;  North America, Europe and Australia;  South South focus emphasis on South America and Asia – more recently this is being disaggregated into engagement with [India Brazil, SA [IBSA]; targeted engagement with China; and supportive of the G20  Based on General Agreements supported by multi- year action plans and SPS Agreements;

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Africa  Consolidation of bilateral relations – through African Footprint and post conflict reconstruction  Working to support the African Union;  Implementation of NEPAD- CAADP;  Prioritization of the SADC bilateral support to the restructuring of SADC through implementation of the SADC 3E;  Implementation of the Agricultural Technical Exchange Programme;  Increased representation at all levels;  Intra-African trade facilitation – harmonization

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE AADP – Areas of focus  Development of SPS related legislation [GMO Act];  Development and support to National Regulatory Systems Infrastructure [Harmonization strategy adopted in SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Programme];  Integrated Food Security Strategies [IFSNP]  -Disease Combating and Management [SADC Strategy to combat FMD and Harmonization of the SADC Animal Identification System; Locust control in Mali]

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE AADP – Areas of focus  Micro-financing infrastructure for agriculture [Establishing the Land Bank Model in Mozambique]  International trade negotiations – [ACP Group work in Brussels; Lobby within the WTO – Cotton Initiative; SACU - USA FTA]

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Europe, Americas and Australia  Major focus on trade – well running machinery EU and North America - Full implementation of SA EU TDCA, SACU –US negs, AGOA;  Further explore technology, technical assistance, ito sectoral priorities;  EU expansion [CAP]– development of a strategy for new strong agricultural entrants;  Cooperatives development - Italy  Russia ITEC action plans  Australia - Landcare and sustainable resource management.

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE South South Cooperation  Focus on two regions Latin America and Asia;  Similar development challenges;  Similar socio-economic conditions;  Interests in elements of 3TP2 more pronounced;  South alliances – IBSA,  South-South Alliance, G77 & China group, G20 plus;  Move towards G8 of South;

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE Challenges  Financing the AADP;  Internal Human Resources Capacity to deal with bilateral and multilateral engagements;  Alignment of economic interests across all government interventions;  Availability of credible information for planning;  The need to focus – balanced with increased demand for South African leadership;

DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE THANK YOU