This was during his address to Agri SA's Congress 2015, which is underway in Pretoria this week under the theme "Geared for the Future". Zokwana has urged farmers not to lose hope in the face of the drought:

Delegates have also heard from Professor Scott Drimie of the University of Stellenbosch about key considerations driving the future trajectory of the food system. He highlighted 10 key trends likely to influence the sector over the next two decades. Some of these range from rapid urbanisation, the duality of the agri sector and policy uncertainty, to the on-going nutrition transition, resource scarcity, climate change impacts and huge volumes of food wasteage.

Congress is also engaging women in a very unique way with the introduction of a parallel session on the role of women in the development of rural communities. Agri SA's senior manager of labour relations, Elize van der Westhuizen, says upliftment of women results in upliftment of entire families, as well as communities:

She says the ladies session will have a significant impact on the organisation's work going forward:

Congress has also heard more from Deputy Executive Director Christo van der Rheede about Agri SA's draft of a national socio-economic strategy for the agriculture sector.

Also on the agenda for the first day of Congress is a focus on land reform, which will include addresses by Deputy Minister of Rurual Development and Land Reform Mcebisi Skwatsha and Chief Land Claims Commissioner Numfundo Gobodo. Agri SA's chair of chairperson of the Rural Development Policy Committee, Ernest Pringle, is also expected to provide feedback on Agri SA's framework for land reform.

Congress continues tomorrow.

Sabrina Dean/OFM News