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SONA address raises uncertainty about agricultural policies

13 Feb 2017

Johannes Moller, president of Agri SA, said that the organisation, before the SONA, called for statesmanship in dealing with the many economic and social ills of the country and that the organisation expressed reservations with the intended content of "radical transformation".

World Economic Forum via Wikimedia Commons

"President Zuma did deal with a number of related matters in visionary manner and the principles in relation to transformation expressed by him can, in my view, on especially a cooperative basis between government and private sector be put into practice.

"President Zuma made mention of laudable land reform initiatives conducted by farmers in cooperation with farm workers. He emphasised the importance of the National Development Plan and the Constitution, the very frameworks which Agri SA also used to present workable land reform proposals to the government. Of concern, though, is the uncertainties in relation to the Expropriation Bill having been referred back to parliament, the intended changes to the Competition Act to deal with concentration of ownership and even the envisaged Property Practitioners Bill. Agri SA like many other stakeholders have again, prior to the SONA, stressed the need for policy certainty. Admittedly a tough ask but of paramount importance to restore South Africa as a preferred destination for foreign direct investment."

Moller said that Agri SA will as in the past adhere to the request from the president to work with the SAPS to ensure safer communities. "Needless to emphasise the importance of rural safety to the farming community for us as an organisation".

"President Zuma made mention of R2,5 billion having been allocated towards drought aid. "Agri SA questions this amount, in fact, in our view very little support was received in this regard. We will, however, engage with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries on how this was calculated."

"Some years ago, the "butterfly" approach with respect to trade was mooted by the government, meaning trade into Africa and with all parts of the world. The president again referred extensively to trade agreements with e.g. the European Union, Mercosur countries, Africa, China and some of the Brics members. For the agricultural sector, trade and related matters are of obvious importance and I wish to commend the government for successes in this regard."