SONA 2014: 'Million-jobs target for agriculture'

"We have identified agriculture as a key job driver. Our target is for the agricultural sector to create a million jobs by 2030," he said in his state-of-the-nation-address.

Government is set to create a million jobs in the agricultural sector over the next 16 years, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

"We have identified agriculture as a key job driver. Our target is for the agricultural sector to create a million jobs by 2030," he said in his state-of-the-nation-address.

Government would provide comprehensive support to smallholder farmers through speeding up land reform, and providing technical, infrastructural, and financial support.

"Support will be provided to communities as well to engage in food production and subsistence farming to promote food security, in line with the Fetsa Tlala food production programme."

Zuma said the settlement of outstanding land claims would be sped up.

"We will accelerate the settlement of remaining land claims submitted before the cut-off date of 1998.

"We will also re-open the period for the lodgement of claims for the restitution of land for a period of five years, and codify the exceptions to the 1913 cut-off date for the descendants of the Khoi and San," he said.

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