Farmers in certain parts of South Africa are battling to survive through the current season and Agri SA is very concerned about their viability going forward.  Agri SA has done its utmost to assist these farmers in need with emergency measures being implemented across the country to provide feed and fodder to indigent farmers.

“It’s time for government to show its hand with assistance to commercial and small holder farmers” Johannes Moller, President of Agri SA stated.  We represent a major tax base as the farming sector and as citizens of South Africa, taxpayers and contributors to the economy it’s a shame that the commercial and emerging farming sectors have not received any assistance from government “.  To date we have not received a cent from government” Omri van Zyl, CEO of Agri SA remarked.  It seems that government is ill equipped to deal with disasters of this magnitude, moreover it is concerning that the safety net for South Africans have been weakened to such an extent that assistance is not possible” van Zyl remarked.

Moller remarked that in comparison “South African Airlines has been sustained by state guarantees of ±R14.4 billion with an additional R5 billion from Treasury that was just approved.  Eskom with state guarantees amounting to R466 billion has reached its “prudency” limit in this regard.

The turnover of the agriculture sector is approximately R227 billion per annum with a net tax contributor of approximately R50 billion in primary agriculture alone over the past 10 years. We employ more than 850 000 people in the sector and we are the only food secure country in Sub Saharan Africa “how do you protect this asset in times of dire need? You help them” van Zyl stated.  Agri SA has called for emergency assistance from government, in either state guarantees or direct assistance to farmers through the structures of the Land Bank, Agribusinesses or special purpose vehicles.  “Any assistance would be welcome” van Zyl remarked.

“A drought is not just a one-year event, and cash flow and production credit issues will be with us, for the next 2 to 3 years” van Zyl remarked.  We have set up our own fund and will continue to provide assistance to farmers in need, but this is a drop in the ocean vis-à-vis what’s required.  Moller mentioned that Agri SA will be looking at setting up a long term disaster fund for farmers. Agri SA cannot do it alone and will require financial muscle from treasury of other state entities, the private sector and any other contributors.

The post Agri SA calls on government to provide drought assistance appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

Limpopo Landbou Forum – Veiligheid betreur dit dat die Limpopo Provinsiale Polisie Kommissaris dit nodig gevind het om alle boere onder dieselfde kam te skeer deur daarna te verwys dat veral boere roekeloos omgaan met die hantering van vuurwapens. Die Forum ondersteun verantwoordelike vuurwapenhantering asook die beginsel dat dit waarna geskiet word duidelik identifiseer moet word, seker gemaak word dat dit wel die beoogde teiken is en dat die skoot met veiligheid geneem kan word. Dit is egter jammer dat die indruk geskep word dat boere roekeloos links en regs skiet. Dit is jammer dat daar ook nie na die volle omstandighede verwys word wanneer hieroor berig word nie, en so word ‘n bepaalde negatiewe beeld geprojekteer op boere.

Die omstandighede waaronder landbouers en hul werkers deesdae leef en werk is spannend vanweë die onveilige omgewing van die platteland. Die SAPD en landelike gemeenskappe poog daagliks om veiligheid te verbeter. Om gevalle soos die in Letsitele te misbruik om wedersyds kritiek uit te spreek is onvanpas en teenproduktief. Limpopo Landbou Forum – Veiligheid doen ‘n beroep op alle betrokkenes om waaksaam, paraat en uiters verantwoordelik te wees onder alle omstandighede. Die vreedsame voortbestaan van plattelandse gemeenskappe is in belang van die hele land.

Navrae:
Drickus Botha, Streeksbestuurder TLU A Noord – 082 774 9287
Willem van Jaarsveld, HUB Agri Limpopo – 082 451 7913

The post Pers Verklaring: Roekelose Vuurwapenhantering appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

Mr Johan Potgieter, a 47-year- old white male from the Letsitele area, a MISSIONARY with Operation Mobilization (a global missionary organisation) and is not a farmer as reported.

Mr Potgieter is renting a house on a farm in the Letsitele area; he is not the owner of the farm and is not involved in any agricultural activities on the farm.

On Wednesday, 8 March 2017 Mr Potgieter was trying to scare the vervet monkeys away from his home. He was shooting in their direction without aiming to actually kill them. At that specific moment a farm worker pushed his bicycle around the corner when the accident happened. The pellet struck the farm worker’s head but no serious damage was caused. Mr Potgieter immediately rushed to his aid and called for medical assistance.

Mr Potgieter is an active member of the community and is also supporting the cause to fix the current electricity crises affecting the area.

Agri Letaba regrets what happened, but it was a freak accident and nothing more. Agri Letaba appeals to all farmers, the general public, the authorities and the media not to react before all the facts are known. The initial SAPS report is also being questioned, as the incident wasn’t accurately reported.

Agri Letaba is appealing for calm and rational behaviour, from its members and the community in general, during this tense time.

According to unconfirmed information, the worker has already been discharged from hospital and is out of danger.

Agri Letaba regrets this event and sympathizes with both parties involved.

The post An Unfortunate Incident Taken Out Of Proportion appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

Alhoewel grondhervorming die verantwoordelikheid van die regering is, is daar genoeg welwillendheid binne landbou om te help met implementering van ’n weldeurdagte model wat ekonomies sin maak. Agri Limpopo glo die Karaanplan is so ’n plan.

Die noodsaaklikheid om oplossings te vind vir die kwessies wat Suid Afrika tot op hede beroof het van suksesvolle grondhervorming, was nog nooit groter as wat dit tans is nie. Grondhervorming het verander van ’n speelveld waarop die spel van goedkoop politiek gespeel word tot ’n kookpot waarin bestandele vir ’n revolusie mildelik toegevoeg word. Beloftes oor radikale grondhervorming, aansprake oor “gronddiefstal” en beskuldigings van onwilligheid van grond-eienaars om werklike verandering teweeg te bring word vermeng met populisties-emosionele uitsprake wat nie die gevolge van hierdie mengsel verreken nie.

Teen hierdie agtergrond beywer Agri Limpopo hom vir die bevordering van inklusiewe ekonomiese groei wat daarop gemik is om ’n omgewing te skep waar-binne volhoubare landbou beoefen kan word. Saam met ander verantwoordelike rolspelers in landbou, word alle moontlike oplossings in belang van die land-bouer ondersoek. Vir hierdie doel het Agri Limpopo noue samewerking met ondermeer Landbank, landboubesighede, handelsbanke, die Pro-Agri groep, Afasa en Agri All Africa.

Instandhouding van privaatbesitreg en markwaarde van landbougrond, lê finan-siering van landbou in al sy fasette ten grondslag. Grondhervormingsplanne wat hierdie twee pilare van landboufinansiering verswak, bedreig voedeselsekerheid, volhoubaarheid van landbou en die totale ekonomie grootliks. Daarom het Agri Limpopo werk daarvan gemaak om die samevoeging van voorstelle uit die Nasionale Beplanningskomissie en die raamwerk vir grondhervorming soos vervat in Hoofstuk 6 van die NOP, as model vir grondhervorming te bevorder.

Volgens hierdie model (sogenaamde Karaanplan) word privaatbesitreg en markwaarde instandgehou en uitgebrei, risiko versprei tussen alle partye betrok-ke by ’n transaksie, benutting van skaalvoordele moontlik gemaak, vaardig-heidsoordrag en -opleiding bevorder, plattelandse gemeenskappe ontwikkel en plattelandse dorpe se ekonomië versterk.

Hierdie model se vertrekpunt is nie een van boetedoening of betaal van geskiedkundige skuld nie! Die vertrekpunt is ekonomiese simbiose wat toevallig ook die verlede van die land, politieke doelwitte en toekomsverwagtinge aanspreek. Die model verswak nie die balansstate van die ondernemers nie, maar versterk dit volgens gesonde ekonomiese beginsels. Dit skakel nuwe deelnemers in by die bestaande binnelandse- en uitvoerbemarkingsnetwerke met instandhouding van kwaliteitstandaarde en fitosanitêre voorskrifte.

Waarborge vir ’n ekonomies gesonde landboutoekoms verskaf deur politici is veel minder werd as ’n sterk burgerlike samelewing wat saam deel in die voordele van inklusiewe ekonomiese groei. Druk op die regering om fondse beskikbaar te stel vir ’n werkbare grondhervormingsprogram sal meer effektief toegepas kan word indien daar ’n bewese sodanige model beskikbaar is.

Daar is net te veel begunstigdes van grondhervorming wat nog nooit sukses kon smaak nie omdat die proses tot nou toe gebrekkig was in vele opsigte. Die regering se hantering van hul eie mislukkings was hoofsaaklik deur die blaam te plaas op grondeienaars, georganiseerde landbou, geen toegang tot markte vir beginnerboere, uitermate hoë grondpryse en velerlei ander faktore. Die feit is dat onbeholpe amptenare, onvoldoende staatsfondse, wanaanwending van fondse, bedrog, en ’n proses waardeur nuwe landbouers nie titelaktes kry nie en dus nie produksiefinansiering kan bekom nie, verswyg word.

Die werk wat tans gedoen word poog om hierdie tekortkomings uit te skakel. Dit sal daartoe lei dat die Karaanplan die basismodel sal wees vir grondhervor-mingsprojekte is SA.

Agri Limpopo sal aanhou werk om ’n landbousektor in SA te ontwikkel wat in die groeiende vraag na voedsel en vesel sal kan voorsien. ’n Landbousektor van boere – nie swart en wit boere nie! Dit sal noodwendig ’n landbousektor moet wees waarin hande gevat sal moet word. Nie omdat dit afgedwing word nie, maar omdat dit die ekonomies sinvolle ding is om te doen.

Navrae:
Dr Theo de Jager – Voorsitter Agri Limpopo Landbou-ontwikkelingskomitee 082 332 2110
Willem van Jaarsveld – HUB Agri Limpopo 082 451 7913

The post Grondhervorming raak almal, daarom is dit almal se verantwoordelikheid appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

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“On the investment front, the country’s downgrading and also those of major local banks will most certainly not be conducive towards obtaining international funds for on lending into Africa nor can expansion of the banks into Africa be expected”, says Möller. “Local interest rates also seem likely to increase which will aggravate this situation”, he added.

He said that if the economy is to move into a recession, which seems likely, it will lead to a reduced demand for imports in general and equally so for our neighbours. “Livestock imports is a case in point as it is general knowledge that meat consumption is directly correlated to economic performance in South Africa; if we were to move into a recession the impact on our neighbours, some of them being heavily reliant on South Africa for these kinds of exports, is obvious. In the customs union (SACU) reduced imports will also impact negatively on the customs pool – a major source of income for the BLNS countries. A depreciated Rand is also, despite its normal quality of supporting exports, not going to save the day for the region”.

Möller says that infrastructure in our country is for the most part of it in a dilapidated state likewise that needed for proper interconnection in our region. Our fiscal space to deal with these matters will, as a result of the downgrades, become further cramped not only because of the general impact on the economy but also as a result of higher interest rates crowding out funds availability for capital expenditure by government.”

“It is clear that the full impact of the downgrades will also be felt outside of our own borders. Not only is the current situation deserved of focused attention by the social partners inside South Africa but members of especially SADC should also, in their own interest, contemplate joint solutions to deal with this situation”, Möller said. “We trust that the government and specifically also president Zuma will take the lead in devising plans to restore the dignity of our country also in the interest of the region.”

The post Agri SA Media Release: Downgrading will also have regional impact      appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

Daar gaan stemme in  landbou op wat in die huidige omstandighede van verset en oproerigheid, ‘n saak wil uitmaak dat boere nie met die regering behoort saam te werk aan landbouhervorming nie, alvorens dit nie op ons afgedwing word nie. Agri Limpopo glo dat samewerking in sake wat almal se belang dien, die deur oophou vir gesprek oor beleidskwessies wat nie die landbou se beste belang dien nie.

SA beleef uiters onstuimige tye. Onsekerheid ten opsigte van die ekonomie asook regeringsbeleid was waarskynlik nog nooit voorheen gelyktydig op so ‘n laagtepunt soos wat dit tans is nie. Die gemoedere van gewone landsburgers is opgewerk tot op die punt waar politieke verskille geïgnoreer word en saam in die strate gedemonstreer word. Gefrustreerde publieke mening word wyd op alle mediaplatforms gedeel.

Genoemde gebeure bou saam aan ’n weerstandigheid teen ’n persoon en ’n politieke party, maar spoel verseker ook oor na burgers se emosionele toestand. “Die frustrasie met korrupsie en algemene onbeholpenheid in die hantering van landssake, laat al meer mense regverdiging vind daarvoor dat die regering en al sy instellings asook sy wette geignoreer behoort te word” het Leon Borcherds, president van Agri Limpopo, gesê.”Hierdie siening is onverantwoordelik en sal beslis teenproduktief wees oor die langtermyn. Dit is moreel onaanvaarbaar, net soos wat die omstandighede wat tot so ’n siening aanleiding gee, moreel onreg-verdigbaar is. Feit is dat nie een van die twee volhoubaarheid bevorder nie” het Borcherds bygevoeg.

“Landbou staan voor twee keuses. Landbou kan ’n toeskouer langs die veld wees waar beleid tot nadeel van die landbou ontwikkel word, of landbou kan ’n speler op daardie veld wees. Om ’n wedstryd te verloor nadat jy jou beste gegee het op die veld, is altyd beter as die verloor omdat jy nie daar was waar jy moontlik ’n verskil kon maak nie!” is die mening van Piet Engelbrecht, vise president van Agri Limpopo.

“Die stem van redelikheid is nou meer as ooit nodig in elke debat oor land-boukwessies. Diepliggende benaderingsverskille tussen beleidmakers en landbouers roep die landbousektor om in verantwoordelikheid insette te lewer ongeag of daardie insette altyd die verlangde resultate lewer. Verset landbou is ’n opsie wat nog nêrens in Afrika die gewenste resultate vir landbouers gelewer het nie. As hoogs ontwikkelde sektor in SA, moet landbouleiers met verant-woordelikheid hul woorde kies as beroepe gedoen word op hul volgelinge om “stille verset” as opsie te oorweeg. ’n Dwarslêer is net nuttig as hy ’n spoorlyn ondersteun wat die ekonomie help uitbou” het Borcherds gesê.  

Agri Limpopo volg ’n benadering van konstruktiewe betrokkenheid. In hierdie benadering is geen plek vir slaafse navolging omdat dit die polities korrekte ding is om te doen nie. Agri Limpopo glo in diepgaande debat, beginselvaste dialoog en streef deurgaans na ’n uitkoms wat landbouers beter daaraan toe laat as wat ’n toeskouerhouding sou meebring.

“Wanneer ons saam met die regering dink oor moontlikhede om grond-hervorming te laat slaag, is dit nie omdat ons glo boere het politieke skuld om te betaal nie. Beslis nie! Wat ons wel mee rekening hou is dat die regering van die dag grondhervorming as prominente agendapunt dryf. Landbou mag nie tru staan in hierdie proses nie. Landbou kan nie bekostig om te wag totdat hy gedwing word om wette te implimenteer wat tot sy nadeel is nie. Verant-woordelike leierskap vereis juis dat beding sal word vir ’n bedeling wat winsge-wendheid en volhoubaarheid van landbou sal in stand hou” is Dr Theo de Jager, Voorsitter van Agri Limpopo se Landbou-ontwikkelingskomitee, se mening. “Zimbabwe boere het geglo hulle sal ’n ongewenste bedeling voorkom deur prosesse te laat sloer, samewerking te weerhou en om die verantwoordelikheid vir planne maak aan die regering alleen oor te laat. Die gevolge is welbekend!” het de Jager opgemerk. “Agri Limpopo het ’n verantwoordelikheid teenoor sy lede om hulle belange te beskerm en winsgewendheid en volhoubaarheid te bevorder. Ons is oortuig dat die plan vir grondhervorming in Hoofstyk 6 van die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan, soos aangepas deur die Nasionale Beplannings-kommissie, hierdie doelwit kan verwesentlik. Deur loodsprojekte wil ons ons lede, en uiteindelik alle boere in SA, bewyse van sukses lewer en die geleentheid gee om op vrywillge basis hul eie strewe na beter winsgewendheid en volhou-baarheid te dien, terwyl die doelwitte van grondhervorming terselfdertyd verwesentlik word. Daar is in hierdie plan geen sprake van grond afgee nie. Dit gee juis die geleentheid om skaalvoordele te benut en so winsgewendheid en volhoubaarheid van ’n bestaande boerdery te verbeter”.

Geen grondeienaar het sy grond gesteel nie! Elke grondeienaar verdien beskerming van sy belegging in sy grond en die ekonomie van SA. Agri Limpopo sal aanhou om alles te doen wat nodig is om hierdie reg van landbouers te beskerm.

The post Mediaverklaring: Volhoubaarheid appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

“A farm worker and his wife are so traumatised after a farm attack that they no longer wish to live on the farm. For this reason, the Agri Securitas Trust Fund, which has over the years offered trauma counselling to farming communities, has assisted these farm workers with counselling,” said Japie Grobler, chair of the Agri Securitas Trust Fund.

According to Grobler, “farm workers play an important role in the daily activities on a farm therefore we as the farming community must ensure that they receive support when suffering serious trauma after a farm attack. We are grateful that we can make a contribution in this way towards healing the lives of these people.”

The incident occurred on a farm in the Hertzogville district in the Free State when stock thieves targeted the farmer’s feedlot business in the small hours of the night. While investigating, the farmer fired shots into the air.  The police were called but no suspects were found in the vicinity of the feedlot. In the meantime, the farm worker and his wife joined the farmer to assist him. Since no suspects were found, everyone returned to their homes.

When the farm worker and his wife arrived at their house, four suspects were waiting and attacked them. The farm worker sustained various knife wounds and his wife was badly assaulted. The farmer rushed them to the local hospital where they received the necessary treatment.

According to Free State Agriculture, there have been twelve attacks on farm workers during the past year with one murder. These workers were brutally assaulted and are becoming increasingly afraid to live on farms, preferring to relocate to towns. This poses further challenges for effective farm management. “Attacks on farmers and farm workers should be strongly condemned at all levels of society because the country relies on its farming community to put food on their tables every day and to ensure that the country remains self-sufficient in terms of food,” concluded Grobler.

Click here to read more.

The post Agri Securitas Trust Fund Media Release appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

If the accused in the murder trail are found guilty they must face the consequences of their actions.  It cannot be allowed that members of society take the law into their own hands if they are not satisfied with the proceedings of a court of law, they should also face the consequences for their criminal actions.  “With regards to the violence perpetrated against the farming community I call on the police to provide the necessary protection to farmers and to do a thorough investigation of these violent crimes, said Möller. 

This type of violence can solve no problem and can only lead to a security catastrophe unless timely action is taken by the police and community leaders. “I would like to thank members of the farming community who acted responsibly within the framework of the Rural Safety Strategy to deal with the situation.  We will continue to monitor the situation through our affiliation Agri Northwest, and provide the necessary assistance required” said Möller in closing.   

Click here to read more.

The post Media Release: Agri SA calls for responsible action and calmness. appeared first on Agri Limpopo.

The vulnerability of the farming community is no justification for attackers to continue targeting the community, ignoring the important role they fulfil in the progress of the country and its people. Agriculture and those who live and work within the sector are an asset to the country and should therefore be protected and supported at all cost to assist in achieving the objectives of the National Development Plan.

Farm attacks are carried out by criminal elements who strive solely for self-enrichment and do not attach any value to human life and the contribution that these communities make in promoting nation building and prosperity in the country. Recent media reports confirm that farm attackers steal mainly money, firearms and cell phones, which are then traded illegally and used to commit other crimes.

According to media reports, none of the attackers has yet been arrested. Agri SA called urgently on the police to do everything in their power to find and arrest the perpetrators. “The communities where these attackers live could have information about the people involved and we urge them to come forward to assist the police to solve these cases swiftly. It is important for the farming community to see that justice has prevailed and that the heaviest possible sentences are imposed in the event of convictions,” said Breytenbach.

Breytenbach sympathised with the victims’ and their next of kin and wished the injured a speedy recovery. “We urge the farming community to cooperate with the police within the structures of the Rural Safety Strategy in order to combat rural crime. We also call on farmers and farm workers to apply the necessary safety measures, which are vital in curbing farm attacks,” said Breytenbach.

In closing, Breytenbach said “the Agri Securitas Trust Fund provides assistance to various farming communities to upgrade their security measures and to safeguard themselves against rural crime”.

Click here to read more.

The post Agri SA Media Release – Attackers target farming communities. appeared first on Agri Limpopo.