NEWS
Agri Northwest cautions:
Enter into partnerships now!
The 2018 Agri Northwest Congress was held on Friday, 15 September, in Lichtenburg,
the theme being: Partnerships for a better future!
By Aubrey Kruger
Senwes Scenario Editor
T
he message by the president,
Pierre Vercueil, was that part-
nerships are the key to success.
“There is always hope and we
always have to look ahead. We are in the
fortunate position where we can make
a difference.” He also appealed to all
attendees to display socially acceptable
conduct at all times.
Various speakers conveyed messages,
including the president of Agri SA, Dan
Kriek, John Purchase from Agbiz, Nicola
Weimar from Nedbank and Francois
Fouché (Trade Advisory).
One of the most striking remarks
made by Purchase was: “If you do one
thing only: Create a spirit of trust. It is the
easiest, cheapest way of stimulating the
economy.” Weimar said that although the
economic situation was not good, global
Agri NW elects a new President! Pierre Vercueil (retiring President of Agri NW) with
newly elected Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt (President of Agri NW) and Dan Kriek
(President: Agri SA) on the far right.
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SENWES SCENARIO | SUMMER 2018
growth brought hope for South Africa.
Kriek and Vercueil both emphasised
the need for partnerships: “If development
agriculture is not successful, we will not
be successful.”
During the event a new Agri Northwest
president had to be elected. Pierre
Vercueil was succeeded by Willem de
Chavonnes Vrugt as new president.
As proud sponsor of the Agri Northwest
evening function, Senwes was repre-
sented by the Senwes Credit Executive
Manager Pieter Swart and Francois
de Kock, Head: Commercial and Agri-
Finance. Swart confirmed: “Agriculture
poses huge opportunities today. We must
not allow negativity to prevent us from
using these opportunities. We have over-
come huge challenges as a nation.”
During the evening function honourable
mention was made of Brigadier Kiewiet
van Zyl and Lieutenant-Colonel Fanie
Ferreira by the retiring President of Agri
Northwest, Pierre Vercueil. Agri Northwest
honoured Kiewiet and Fanie for their
extraordinary and exceptional service
rendered to agri-producers in Northwest.
They were honoured for their continued,
devoted and successful support of rural
safety during their terms of office. Their
spouses, Lauren and Lynette, were also
honoured at the event.
Vercueil concluded that private land
ownership should be preserved and that
focus on partnerships was not negotiable
- we have to do it.”