Agri SA verwelkom Minister se voorneme om saam met georganiseerde landbou te werk / Agri SA welcomes Minister’s intention to work with organised agriculture

English to follow:

16 Julie 2019

Agri SA is bemoedig deur die Minister van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling, Thoko Didiza, se begrotingsrede wat vandag in die Parlement gelewer is.

Die President van Agri SA, Dan Kriek, het die toespraak bygewoon en het die fokus op vennootskappe, landbou-finansiering, die kommersialisering van swart boere en die produktiewe gebruik van grond, verwelkom.

“Dit is ook positief dat die Minister die belangrikheid van etiese gedrag, die nodigheid om instellings te versterk, die probleme met kommunale eiendomsverenigings en die nodigheid vir ’n groter fokus op bio-sekuriteit, erken het,” sê Kriek.

Agri SA is ten nouste betrokke by prosesse om ’n ontwikkeling-finasieringsmodel daar te stel. Kriek het ’n beroep op die Minister gedoen om saam met die privaatsektor in die saak te werk.

“Wat die Minister egter nie genoem het nie, is die vraagstuk oor beleidonsekerheid rakende eiendomsreg. Die landbousektor het beleidsekerheid dringend nodig.”

Kriek het opnuut Agri SA se verbintenis tot ’n inklusiewe, vooruitstrewende en globaal-mededingende landbousektor, bevestig.

Navrae:

Dan Kriek

Agri SA President

(S) 082 944 0566

Annelize Crosby

Agri SA Beleidshoof: Grond

(S) 082 388 0017

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16 July 2019

Agri SA is heartened by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza’s budget speech delivered at Parliament today.

President of Agri SA, Dan Kriek, who attended the speech welcomed the focus on partnerships, agricultural finance, the commercialisation of black farmers and the productive use of land.

“It is also positive that the Minister has recognised the importance of ethical conduct, the need to strengthen institutions, the problems with communal property associations and the need to have a bigger focus on bio-security” said Kriek.

Agri SA is deeply involved in processes to develop a development financing model. Kriek called on the Minister to join forces with the private sector in this regard.

“What the Minister did not deal with, however, is the question of policy uncertainty around property rights. The agricultural sector sorely needs policy certainty.”

Kriek also reiterated Agri SA’ s commitment to build an inclusive, thriving and globally competitive agricultural sector.

Enquiries:

Dan Kriek

Agri SA President

(C) 082 944 0566

Annelize Crosby

Agri SA Policy Head: Land

(C) 082 388 0017