Ministers spreek landbouers toe | Ministers address farmers

English to follow:

3 Oktober 2019

Agri SA sien uit daarna om volgende week sy lede verteenwoordigend van die hele waardeketting by sy jaarlikse kongres te ontvang. Die tema van vanjaar se kongres is Die ontwikkeling van die Suid-Afrikaanse landbou-omgewing in die era van die Vierde Industriële Revolusie.

“In ’n snel-veranderende omgewing moet landbouers op hoogte wees van nuwe ontwikkelinge om volhoubaar te kan boer,” sê Dan Kriek, Agri SA President. “Dit rus op landbouers se skouers om voedselsekerheid vir Suid-Afrika te verseker met die hulp van tegnologiese vooruitgang.”

Die Minister van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike ontwikkeling, Thoko Didiza gaan landbouers by die kongres in Pretoria toespreek.

“Ons sien uit na die Minister se deelname aan kongres en het groot verwagting oor die inhoud van haar boodskap,” sê Kriek. “Ons vertrou dat sy van die geleentheid gebruik sal maak om aandagtig te luister na kwessies wat landbouers se vermoë beïnvloed om volhoubaar te boer.”

Op die tweede dag van Agri SA se kongres sal die Minister van Menslike Nedersettings, Water en Sanitasie, Lindiwe Sisulu, landbouers toespreek. Water word uitgewys as ’n kritieke hulpbron waarsonder landbouproduksie onmoontlik is.

“Kwessies oor die regulering van watergebruiksregte, besoedeling van bronne, die koste van water en transformasie is veral vir die landbousektor van belang. Agri SA het in die verlede ’n hegte verhouding met die regering gehad waar dit gaan oor water en ons sien uit daarna om te luister na Minister Sisulu.”

Sprekers, internasionaal en plaaslik, sal kongresgangers inlig oor kwessies wat verband hou met die Vierde Industriële Revolusie en hoe dit boerderypraktyke en besighede kan raak:

• Bio-tegnologie en nano-tegnologie in die landbou – Rajan Gajaria, Uitvoerende vise-president: Besigheidsplatforms van Corteva Agriscience
• Die revolusie van presisie-landbou deur kunsmatige intelligensie – Barrett Bar, Strategiese Hoof Geïntegreerde Oplossings: John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group (VSA)
• Die toekomstige wêreld – Impak van die Vierde Industriële Revolusie op die wêreld – Morné Mostert, Direkteur: Instituut vir Toekomsnavorsing, Universiteit Stellenbosch

Grond, hernubare energie, watersake en ’n sosiale eenheidsooreenkoms sal deel wees van die kongresagenda, so ook die verkiesing van Agri SA se ampsdraers en kamerbesture.

“Agri SA sien daarna uit om sy afgevaardigdes en gaste te ontvang,” sê Kriek. “Die kongres is ’n geleentheid vir ’n samekoms vir die ontwikkeling van idees vir die toekoms. Dit is ook ’n geleentheid waar lede mandate vasstel vir die werk wat Agri SA in die komende jaar moet doen.”

 Agri SA se kongres word op 10 en 11 Oktober 2019 by die Maslow Time Square Hotel by Menlyn Maine in Pretoria gehou.

Navrae:

Dan Kriek

Agri SA President

(S) 082 944 0566

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3 October 2019

Agri SA looks forward to welcoming members representative of the entire value chain at its annual congress next week. The theme of this year’s congress is The shaping of the South African agricultural landscape in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“In a rapidly changing environment, farmers have to keep abreast of new developments in order to farm sustainably,” says Dan Kriek, Agri SA President. “Farmers are tasked with ensuring food security in South Africa with the help of technological advancements.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, will address farmers at the congress to be held in Pretoria.

“We look forward to the Minister’s participation in the congress and have great expectations of the content of her message,” says Kriek. “We trust that she will make use of this opportunity to listen carefully to issues that affect farmers’ ability to farm sustainably.”

On the second day of Agri SA’s congress, the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu, will address the farmers. Water is identified as a critical resource without which agricultural production is not possible.

“Matters relating to the regulation of water use rights, pollution of resources, the cost of water, and transformation are of particular interest to the farming sector. Agri SA has in the past maintained a close relationship with the government when it comes to water and we look forward to hearing what Minister Sisulu has to say.”

Speakers, both international and local, will inform congress attendees on issues relating to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how it could affect farming practices and businesses:

• Biotechnology and nanotechnology in agriculture – Rajan Gajaria, Executive Vice President: Business Platforms of Corteva Agriscience
• The revolution of precision agriculture through artificial intelligence – Barrett Bar, Strategic Head – Integrated Solutions: John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group (USA)
• World of the Future – The impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the World – Morné Mostert, Director: Institute for Futures Research, Stellenbosch University

Land, renewable energy, water affairs and a social cohesion compact will form part of the congress agenda, as will the election of Agri SA’s office bearers and chamber management.

“Agri SA looks forward to welcoming its delegates and guests,” says Kriek. “The congress offers an opportunity for people to come together to develop ideas for the future. It is also an opportunity for members to mandate Agri SA’s priorities for the upcoming year.”

 Agri SA’s congress will be held on 10 and 11 October 2019 at the Maslow Time Square Hotel in Menlyn Maine, Pretoria.

 Enquiries:

Dan Kriek

Agri SA President

(C) 082 944 0566