Inclusivity in agriculture in South Africa would be achieved if there is a joint effort from different stakeholders in the sector. This was the message from agricultural role players who were part of a panel discussing collaboration at the Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba.
“I would wish that the agriculture sector have trust between the established commercial farmers and the newly established farmers in the sector,” said CEO of the Agricultural Development Agency, Leona Archary.
“Partnership and collaboration is key because if we want to build a prosperous sector, we have to be inclusive and we have to be willing to do it together. We cannot do it together if each party does not trust the other. So if we begin to trust that will enable us to develop and drive our country,” she added.
Archary suggested that a consolidated agriculture plan be put in place so that it can allow growth for the entire sector and open opportunities for new entrants, while it continuing to open opportunities for those who are established so that no one is left out.
Collaboration is key
In agreement with Archary was North West MEC for agriculture and rural development Desbo Mohono, who said her biggest wish is that policymakers could find a way to turn policies around to suit us as Africans. This while making sure we produce as much as possible through the availability of technology.
“Countries are already on ahead on technology and we are still on the fourth industrial revolution, I want a situation where as farmers we take advantage of emerging technology to assist us to do our things better because whether we like it or not, climate change is with us and we cannot run away from it. We cannot do things the old way that we used to do them,” Mohono said.
“I wish that every farmer is using existing technology to assist us in producing better and our country being the food basket of the world would have made my dream come true.”
She added that collaboration improves the value of inclusivity, “because you won’t make it in the sector alone. You need everybody by your side.”
Support for youth and small-scale farmers
Mohono said it was important to change the narrative that agriculture was not “cool” or it was for people with less knowledge. She urged young people the take over the sector.
“We need these young minds. They come from the history that agriculture is for old people, but that’s history,” she said.
Mpho Xape, who represented the Gauteng department of agriculture, rural development and environment, said providing support to farmers and farming communities across the different farming enterprises and typologies, is crucial for more inclusivity. Farmers, he believes, need support, and as a government they need to make sure that a farmer at a subsistence level is also able to make a product that contributes to the country’s GDP the same as commercial farmers.
Farmers need support with production, infrastructure, and all farming processes so that they can participate effectively within the agricultural value chain, Xape said.
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