Texas A&M University (TAMU) is keen on assisting the Eastern Cape government with community and youth development, this was revealed by leader of its delegation Professor Jack Elliot during their visit to department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform

Elliot, who is TAMU’s Regional Director for Africa, was speaking during the delegation’s first engagement with the MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) Nomakhosazana Meth whose department is hosting the Americans who are doing a “needs analysis” following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

“We want to be engaged in improving production, economy and wellbeing of people here by working with the community through food security. We want people that will work with us so that we can improve things here,” added Elliot.

MEC Meth said she was “optimistic” the engagement with TAMU, which was sealed with an MoU in August 2015, “will get into implementation stages of the projects.”

“I look forward to the deliverables to our communities and we embrace this opportunity to work with you to realise the green Eastern Cape we want.

“Food security is achieved through working together and collaborations hence this initiative is important. We want to work with you to improve our expertise in dealing with farmer development because we want to commercialise our small scale and communal farmers.”

The delegation is in a week-long visit to the province where experts including professors in different fields of agriculture include animal and crop production, aquaculture, research and extension services as well as youth development are actively participating.

The delegation will visit a number of institutions like Fort Cox College, University of Fort Hare as well as Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (TARDI).