This is one of the key issues highlighted during the joint congress of the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa) and the National Emergent Red Meat Producer’s Organisation (Nerpo), which is underway in Pretoria this week. 

Secretary General and Group MD of the two organisations, Aggrey Mahanjana, says, for example, government has spent a small fortune on farmer support over the years.

“The research that has been done by Afasa and Nerpo is that since 1994, almost R2 trillion has been spent on the farmer support programme.

“With that money, we cannot point out the people who have been supported. What is their current participation in terms of the economy of the country.”

Some of the resolutions from congress include renewed calls for the establishment for a farmer register, a livestock census and better implementation of Government plans and policies.

“The biggest, biggest weakness of our Government is policies. We support them all – they are very good, excellent. But when it comes to implementation of these policies, it becomes a disaster.”

Mahanjana says he is expecting sparks to fly during an engagement with Rural Development and Land Reform Minister, Gugile Nkwinti, later in the programme.

Congress has also heard from Agriculture Minister Senzeni Zokwana.

Meanwhile, Nono Sekhoto, coordinator of the Afasa Youth Wing, addressed Congress on plans to engage young farmers going forward. 

Sekhoto has just returned from a trip to Rome in Italy to represent Afasa at the World Farmers Organisation (WFO) of Young Farmers Forum.

“I felt really humbled to be part of that and I think what made it even more special for me was that I carried facts. It wasn’t just about me.

“Because of the Facebook group that I started, I have had so many people contacting me over the years with specific struggles and issues. So, I am really talking from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Also being able to understand different solutions from all over the world.”

Delegates are meanwhile expected to take to the streets of Pretoria with tractors, bakkies, horses and donkey carts for a peaceful march to the Union Buildings on Tuesday. Mahanjana says they intend to hand over a petition to President Jacob Zuma.

OFM News