Agriculture could face extinction within a generation due to the slow replenishment of human capital in the field. This is according to Ishmael Sunga, chief executive of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU).
Speaking at the SACAU congress in Polokwane in Limpopo, Sunga stressed the importance of attracting young people to the agricultural sector. He emphasised the potential consequences of not taking action.
The congress has a primary focus of enticing young agripreneurs to the agricultural sector by highlighting profitable opportunities. Gathering participants from across Africa, it revolves around the theme of “Putting young agripreneurs, technological innovations, and policy at the centre of climate action.”
WATCH: Day 1 of the SACAU annual conference
With pressing challenges such as climate change and the need for rejuvenation in the sector, the congress aims to ignite the interest of the younger generation by showcasing agriculture as a lucrative and promising career path.
“The problem that is out there about organised agriculture is that the gears [are] not running fast,” he said, emphasising its indispensable role in the development and growth of South Africa’s agricultural landscape. “If it wasn’t for organised agriculture, there wouldn’t have been any agriculture in South Africa on the scale that it is now.”
Meanwhile, Piet Engelbrecht, the president of Agri Limpopo, highlighted the continuous effort required to achieve positive results and dispelled the notion of quick fixes in the agricultural sector.
Christopher Bracher, the programme manager for international cooperation at Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA), discussed their partnership with SACAU and the success of their initiatives. “This has led to the programme of the SACAU agriculture training and the young leaders incubation programme,” he stated.
Capacity building in agri
Bracher explained how these initiatives focus on strengthening the personal capacities of farmers and future leaders in the agricultural sector. The programmes aim to enhance entrepreneurial skills, personal development, and self-efficacy among participants, fostering a network and shared vision of agriculture.
During his address, Maximillian Berger, counsellor for agricultural affairs at the German embassy in South Africa, expressed his appreciation for the close cooperation between the German Ministry for Food and Agriculture and SACAU.
WATCH: Day 2 of the SACAU annual conference
He commended the union’s successful unification of various agricultural unions from different regions under one umbrella. Berger emphasised the need to promote sustainable practices in all spheres to meet the challenges of climate change.
He also highlighted the role of farmers in providing public benefits like clean air and water, environmental security, and cultural heritage.
“Our partnership is rooted in the common vision of a strengthened agricultural sector through capacitated actors and farmer organisations that represent them,” Berger stated, emphasising the focus on farmers with the mindset to grow and diversify their business and young farmers with the potential to become future leaders in the agricultural sector.
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