AgriworldSA

Agri SA
Mediaverklaring / Media Release
 
Privaatsak / Private Bag X 180 Centurion 0046, Tel +27+12 643 4300, Faks/ Fax +27+12 663 3178

AGRI SA PRAAT LANDBOUSAKE MET PRESIDENT ZUMA AGRI SA TALKS ABOUT AGRICULTURE WITH PRESIDENT ZUMA

2 Julie/July 2010

AGRI SA PRAAT LANDBOUSAKE MET PRESIDENT ZUMA

Geleenthede vir samewerking tussen die regering en die kommersiële landbou om dié bedryf tot sy volle potensiaal in Suid- en Suider-Afrika te ontwikkel, is vandag deur 'n Agri SA afvaardiging met President Zuma en van sy kabinetslede bespreek.  Beide President Zuma en Johannes Möller, President van Agri SA, het na afloop van die samesprekings hulle tevredenheid uitgespreek oor die grondslag wat gelê is vir verhoudinge en konstruktiewe dialoog, waarmee die bedryf se uitdagings aangepak kan word.

"Tydens die samesprekings is saamgestem dat 'n suksesvolle kommersiële landbou 'n onmisbare bydrae lewer tot nasionale voedselsekerheid, werksgeleenthede, die opheffing van armoede en landelike ontwikkeling, maar dat die prestasie van die bedryf verder verbeter kan word indien die regering en die rolspelers in die bedryf kan hande vat om knelpunte uit te skakel en groeigeleenthede te benut," sê Möller.

Agri SA se afvaardiging het tydens die gesprek klem gelê op die ontwikkelingspotensiaal van die bedryf, faktore wat beperkend daarop inwerk maar ook die gesindheid en bereidwilligheid van rolspelers in die kommersiële landbou om saam met die regering die potensiaal van die bedryf verder te ontsluit.  Daar is van dié geleentheid gebruik gemaak om onder andere bemarkingsprobleme in die landbou, landelike infrastruktuurbeperkings, geleenthede vir die ontwikkeling van 'n bio-brandstofbedryf, geleenthede vir ander vorme van waardetoevoeging deur die verwerking van primêre produkte en die noodsaak om die onsekerheid wat grondeise op investering en produksie skep, te bespreek.

President Zuma het daarvan kennis geneem dat Agri SA gereelde skakeling met verskeie ministers het, maar dat daar by Agri SA die behoefte vir beter oorhoofse beleidskoördinering bestaan en dat daar veral aandag gegee moet word aan die beter implementeringsbestuur van beleid en programme, veral wanneer 'n veelvoud van regeringsinstellings daarby betrokke is.

President Zuma het versoek dat Agri SA insette aan die regering verskaf oor die beleidsraamwerk waarbinne beleidkoördinering gedoen kan word, maar dat daar ook gefokus moet word op programme waarmee daar effektief gevorder kan word met landbou-ontwikkeling.  Hy het verder gereël dat 'n fokusgroep op ministersvlak byeen gebring moet word om meer holisties na die landbou se ontwikkelingsbehoeftes om te sien.  So 'n ministersgroep sal tersaaklike programme en voorstelle oorweeg waarna daar weer met Agri SA 'n gesprek gevoer sal word.

Uitgereik deur Agri SA, Direktoraat:  Korporatiewe Skakeling Navrae Mnr Johannes Möller, President Agri SA, 082 6478481 Mnr Hans van der Merwe, Uitvoerende Direkteur, Agri SA, 082 388 0001


AGRI SA TALKS ABOUT AGRICULTURE WITH PRESIDENT ZUMA

Opportunities for co-operation between government and commercial agriculture to develop this industry to its full potential in South Africa and Southern Africa were discussed today by an Agri SA delegation and President Zuma and some of his cabinet members. Both President Zuma and Agri SA Johannes Möller said after the meeting that they were satisfied with the foundation that had been laid for a relationship and constructive dialogue whereby the industry's challenges can be tackled.

"During the discussions it was agreed that a successful commercial agricultural sector made an indispensable contribution to national food security, job opportunities, poverty relief and rural development, but that the performance of the industry could be improved if government and the role players in the industry join forces to eliminate the hurdles and utilise growth opportunities," said Möller.

During the meeting the Agri SA delegation emphasised the development potential of the sector, the factors that hampered such development, but also the attitude of role players in commercial agriculture and their willingness to join the government in further unlocking the potential of the industry. This opportunity was also used to discuss inter alia agricultural marketing problems, rural infrastructure shortcomings, opportunities for the development of a bio-fuels industry, opportunities for other forms of value-adding by the processing of primary products and the need to eliminate the uncertainty that land claims create in respect of investment and production.

President Zuma noted that although Agri SA liaised regularly with various ministers, there was a need for better overall policy co-ordination, with special attention to improved management of the implementation of policy and programmes particularly where several government institutions are involved.

President Zuma asked Agri SA to provide the government with inputs towards a framework within which policy coordination can take place, but said the focus should also be on programmes to ensure effective progress with agricultural development. He also made arrangements for a focus group to be established at ministerial level to deal more holistically with agriculture's development needs. Such a ministerial group would consider relevant programmes and proposals, after which discussions would be held with Agri SA.

Issued by Agri SA, Directorate: Corporate Liaison

Enquiries
Mr Johannes Möller, President Agri SA, 082 647 8481 Mr Hans van der Merwe, Executive Director, Agri SA, 082 388 0001



Thea Liebenberg
Agri SA Mediaskakelbeampte
Agri SA Media Liaison Officer

Direk: 27 (0)12 643 3434
Sel:  +27 (0)82 388 0008
Tel:  +27 (0)12 643 3400
Fax:  086 683 2809
thea@agrisa.co.za<mailto:thea@agrisa.co.za>

Privaatsak X180, Centurion, 0046