In South Africa’s agricultural landscape, being part of commodity organisations or agricultural associations is essential for farmers in addressing numerous challenges.
With challenges farmers face from addressing safety concerns to tackling infrastructure problems, experts and leaders in organised agriculture have cited that being under one umbrella is the only solution to finding common ground and lasting solutions.
Strength in collective advocacy
Farmers across South Africa are urged to take advantage of the numerous benefits offered by farmer and commodity associations.
Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said these associations play an essential role in advancing farming businesses.
“There are various benefits from joining farmer associations or commodity associations. Some of them are technical, some of them are policy related, and also intangible benefits around networking.
“If a farmer is a new entrant and they are entering, for example, the grain industry or even an established farmer, there’s a lot more knowledge sharing that happens about their production methods, about certain diseases that farmers experience in their fields, how they overcome them,” he said.
Beyond the technical aspect, Sihlobo also noted the importance of collective advocacy.
“It’s again much more beneficial lobbying for policy as a group rather than when you are going alone,” he said.
Benefits of organised structures
Elana Bester, the communications officer at Free State Agriculture (FSA), explained that any organisation is only as good as its ground structures. She added that the strength of the organisation can be determined by the active involvement of these structures.
Without the involvement of associations, rural communities often face persistent issues such as safety concerns and challenges with local municipalities.
“The signs are, in most instances, quite distinguishable when there is a lack of involvement within local agricultural associations,” Bester said.
According to Bester, most rural areas in South Africa face common challenges, and being part of an organised structure makes a significant difference.
“Although one approach may work for some farmers, it might not suit others. These organisations allow for the sharing of strategies that can be adapted to different situations. This collective action provided strength and better problem-solving capabilities.
“We have FSA represented our members in various matters, including rural safety, crime prevention, labour relations, and commercial concerns like Eskom,” she said.
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Supporting young farmers
Limpopo poultry farmer and vice secretary of Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (Yard), Kamogelo Thobejane, said the collective support is important, particularly for young and new-era farmers.
“We encourage farmers to have things like water rights, things that are needed when they apply for funding,” he explained.
Thobejane highlighted the difficulties young farmers face when applying for funding from organisations like the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
“Some don’t have laptops, some are clueless, they don’t know how to create that profile and log in to apply, so that is why it becomes important for them to join organisations that speak their language.”
Thobejane emphasised the importance of working together to overcome these challenges, noting how established farmers and agricultural organisations can assist. “We do help them with those applications.
“With that association, you will be able to get information, if there is farmers’ information, you will be informed. If there are trainings, you will be informed, and farmers can register their businesses. If they are experiencing any challenge, we share solutions,” he said.
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