The agricultural sector must dismantle its silos, as working together will enable role-players to effectively tackle the critical challenges of food insecurity and climate change that threaten our future. This was the pressing message shared by Dr Mathews Phosa, chairman of the Agricultural Development Agency (Agda), at the organisation’s annual general meeting.
Attended by various stakeholders, industry experts and farmers, the gathering, hosted in Centurion, critically unpacked barriers that have long kept different sectors of agriculture isolated.
“Our efforts in building an institutional framework have been geared towards driving inclusive and sustainable growth, a goal that aligns with global development ambitions,” Phosa said.
He further added that Agda’s initiatives have included clearing and planting hectares of land and creating jobs, demonstrating their commitment to community empowerment and economic development, while acknowledging the challenges the sector faces.
Agda’s commitment to inclusivity
In her year-in-review address, Leona Archary, the CEO of Agda, built on Phosa’s call for greater unity within the agricultural sector, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and sustainability.
“It’s not about building for ourselves, but building inclusively for everything that we can contribute to the sector,” she stated.
Archary shared encouraging figures, revealing that Agda now boasts over 45 000 farmers within its network and manages more than 350 000 hectares of land.
“If one looks across the Agda membership at the moment, we have more than the 350 000 hectares of land that sit amongst us. If we get to next year and make something happen on 35 000 hectares of the land collectively, that will be a huge achievement,” she said.
Archary added that one key aspect they consistently stress is the significance of good governance and accountability.
“This is something that drives who we are. Our ethics and integrity are foundational to how we structure our systems of good governance.”
Looking ahead, she expressed optimism about reporting impactful progress in 2025, reflecting on Agda’s dedication to practical solutions in agriculture.
“We must come back next year [and be] able to show what impact we have made in some of these lands.
“We believe collaboration equals more produce, more production, and more capital world growth. I honestly believe that if we join hands, we can make a huge difference in our sector going forward.”
Collaboration key to unlocking sustainable growth
Meanwhile, a panel discussion, facilitated by Theo Boshoff, CEO of Agbiz, took place during Agda’s gathering. It focused on leveraging policy and best practices to foster synergistic agricultural partnerships.
The importance of collaboration among diverse agricultural stakeholders was a key theme, emphasising how competition can complement cooperation to drive robust growth and sustainability.
The discussion featured insights from AJ Mthembu (president of Afasa), Kallie Schoeman (renowned farmer), Jolanda Andrag (COO of Agri SA), Mooketsi Ramasodi (director general of the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development), and Themba Rikhotso (CEO of Land Bank).
Rikhotso highlighted Land Bank’s commitment as a development finance institution, noting that over the past 18 months, the bank has financed more than 200 farmers, investing R2 billion through tools like the blended finance scheme.
He also discussed the bank’s role in facilitating partnerships with off-takers to enhance market access for farmers, with a particular emphasis on boosting the participation of black farmers in commercial agriculture.
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The panellists agreed that leveraging policy, strategic partnerships, and best practices would help achieve sustainable growth in agriculture.
In his keynote address at the AGM, Mike Teke, chairman of Masimong Group Holdings, noted the importance of collaboration between agriculture, energy, and mining. He highlighted the need for these industries to coexist, support one another, and work together to drive economic growth and uplift communities.
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