The National Development Plan and other government policies acknowledge the
current and potential contribution that agriculture is making towards job creation
in rural areas and along the value chain. Apart from its valuable
contribution towards trade and the generating of foreign income, local food
production was and still is essential for maintaining national food security, a
situation that should be treasured and enhanced. In most rural areas
commercial agriculture is still the dominant economic activity around which
secondary development takes place. It is foreseen that this situation
will prevail for the foreseeable future. South Africa is, however, not
endowed with an abundance of high potential agricultural land and water
resources. This dictates circumspection with policy decisions which
influence the allocation and utilisation of such resources.
The most important challenge for government is to foster confidence amongst
all stake holders in the sector to invest or participate in the growth and
expansion thereof. Policy certainty and coherency were up to now areas of
concern and in various circumstances experienced as being contradictory.
This situation was, unfortunately, exacerbated by unsatisfactory service
delivery.
The sector acknowledges the need to address the skewness in participation
in the sector derived from policy interventions of the past. Sector
roleplayers are looking forward to a constructive partnership with government
to effect such changes. There are, however, areas of concern, i.e. the
re-opening of land claims will inhibit investment due to uncertainty of future
ownership; collateral values will be negatively affected if government deviate
from paying market values for land; and statutory arrangements with regards to
the labour market accelerate the use of labour saving practices. Agri SA’s
views on these matters are on record, namely that less direct intervention and
an assisted market approach is the preferred option to find solutions for these
challenging issues.
Agriculture also experiences increasing competing demands on natural
resources from other sectors, impeding on the availability and quality
thereof. Water quality management and the protection of high potential
land deserve more recognition. The effective management thereof by
relevant authorities at all levels should be a priority.
Sustaining and enhancing the competitiveness of the agricultural sector should
be at the core of policies and programmes aimed at growing the future
contributions of the sector. The competitive edge of the sector depends inter
alia on its cost of doing business, access to efficient and reliable
infrastructure, access to cutting edge technology and information and efficient
disaster risk management. Agri SA has identified deficiencies and
backlogs in this regard and engages with government on approaches and solutions
thereto. The same applies with respect to trade matters where issues such
as an appropriate trade and tariff policy; complying with international norms
and standards with regards to animal and plant health; and the review as well
as optimal utilisation of existing and future trade agreements are
interrogated. In the light of this, Agri SA welcomes the recent progress
that was made with the drafting and consultations around an Agriculture Policy
Action Plan (APAP) which will serve as an important implementation mechanism,
aligning agricultural initiatives with the National Development Plan.
Notwithstanding a good working relationship between the farming community
and safety and security structures of government, the continued prevalence or
crime and violence in rural areas remain unacceptably high. Agri SA
acknowledges the complexity of the phenomenon and will lend its full support to
the implementation of all the elements of the rural safety strategy and the
reservist policy in particular. With regards to a wider concern about
disrespect for law and order, we appeal to government to strengthen their
resolve in seeking and implementing appropriate solutions and also to set an
example in this regard.
Agri SA believes that the restoration of acceptable levels of economic
growth represents the ultimate solution for South Africa. At the same time, a
social development model should be developed and implemented to provide
training to prospective entrepreneurs in order to ensure the establishment of a
larger small business sector as well as high- quality employees. Our view is
that such an approach will ensure a more even distribution of wealth and reduce
the number of households primarily dependent on government grants.
It is of cardinal importance that everyone in South Africa unites behind a
common vision for the country and supports an economic strategy that will lead
to growth and job creation with a view to securing a better life for all
citizens.
Source: Agri SA
http://www.agrisa.co.za/ #IFAMAFRICA
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