N AMPO
•••
DISCOURSE CAN LEAD TO
solutions in agriculture
“IT IS ONLY GRAIN PRODUCERS THAT STAND BETWEEN LOAD SHEDDING AND
FOOD SHEDDING. NATION IN CONVERSATION CONTRIBUTES IN FINDING
SOLUTIONS VIA CONVERSATION AND THIS HELP US TO PREVENT A FOOD CRISIS...”
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF JANNIE DE VILLIERS (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER:
GRAIN SA). GRAIN SA ENDORSES THIS NATIONAL PROGRAMME AND SENWES
DRIVEN INITIATIVE WHICH STIMULATES DEBATE IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR.
T
here is no doubt that
South Africa’s agricultural
industry is under pressure.
High economic and political
demands are being placed on
food producers to transform
and find a different approach to
agricultural practices, production
activities, ownership and
utilisation of land and resources;
and to continue to ensure food
security, and the health and
wellness of the nation.
A united and collective effort
is required to ring in the changes.
Agricultural producers do not
operate in isolation. They form
part of the great tapestry of our
nation and play an essential role
to ensure the country’s stability
and economic growth through
food production. The fate of
these producers is inextricably
linked to every aspect of society.
With urbanisation the
ordinary citizen lost touch with
the realities of food production
and agricultural matters. These
were shifted to the background
where it was seldom considered
important by the consumer.
However, the stability of
the agricultural sector impacts
on the livelihood of the entire
population and the national
debate around these issues
should be considered much
more widely than just amongst
those with a direct economic or
political interest in agriculture.
It is for this reason that key
role players under the leadership
of Senwes, launched the Nation
in Conversation dialogue
platform in 2013 at the Nampo
Harvest Day in Bothaville.
Nation in Conversation draws
thought leaders from various
affiliations, political backgrounds
and the business sector together
at a single venue to discuss and
debate agricultural matters.
“It is in our joint interest
to ensure that our agricultural
industry remains secure and
stable, that we seek consensus
to overcome the many
challenges facing agriculture
today and work together
towards a sustainable future,”
explains Francois Strydom,
(Managing Director: Senwes).
“The future of agriculture and
the welfare of our country are
intertwined and can only be
secured through progressive
action, finding mutual ground
and establishing partnerships
between commercial farmers,
civil society and the State”.
“Nampo Harvest Day,
presented by Grain SA, provides
the ideal platform to host these
conversations,” explains Strydom.
This well-known trade show runs
over four days from 12 – 15 May
and has established itself in the
Southern African region as the top
gathering place for all stakeholders
in the agricultural sector, including
commercial and emerging
farmers, civil servants, corporate
businesses and aligned industries.
Nampo helps to provide
agricultural producers with the
knowledge and skills to handle
the many technical, economic
and political challenges they face.
The growing interest from foreign
companies in Nampo also serves to
confirm the international interest
in Africa as a food producer, and
particularly South Africa as a portal
to the rest of the continent.
This year, Nation in Conversation
aims to give issues such as food
security and land reform a broader
platform to help ensure that food
production and job creation are not
compromised when new approaches
to agriculture are adopted.
“We wish to ensure the debate is
inclusive and far reaching and that
broader media platforms will be
included in the discussions to reach
SENWES Scenario • April/Mei 2015
9