[:en]Concerned major stakeholders from Organised Agriculture, Organised Agribusiness, the banking sector and government institutions met on 10 November 2015 to discuss the effect of the rapidly deteriorating drought situation in South Africa on the broader agriculture sector and food security in particular. It is clear that the drought situation is not limited to South Africa, but has an extensive regional reach that will have further socio-economic and food security ramifications at regional level as well.
Good rainfall in the summer rainfall region of South Africa over the next months is possible and can still break the drought cycle and ensure relief for crop and livestock farmers especially. However, scenarios are increasingly pointing to a situation where significant imports of maize, as staple food crop, will become necessary, as well as the provision of fodder for breeding herds of livestock to be maintained.
While agricultural financiers will strive to the best of their abilities to assist farmers to survive the drought through debt consolidation and other means, they are also bound by, amongst others, stipulations of the National Credit Act in terms of strict lending practices that need to be adhered to.
Given the challenges that the broader sector faces, a Task Team of the major stakeholders, including Agri SA, Agbiz, Land Bank, IDC and Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), as well as others to be invited, will draft action plans to assist in mitigating the indicated risks that this serious drought poses. This will include engaging with government to ensure food security and the sustainability of the industry.
Issued by Agri SA, Directorate: Corporate Liaison
Enquiries
Omri van Zyl, Designate Executive Director: Agri SA – 082 4175724
John Purchase, CEO: Agbiz – 082 4412308[:za]Die belangrikste belanghebbendes in georganiseerde landbou, georganiseerde agribesigheid, die banksektor en regeringsinstellings het op 10 November 2015 vergader om die impak van die vinnig-verswakkende droogtesituasie in Suid-Afrika op die breë landbousektor en voedselsekerheid te bespreek. Dit is duidelik dat die droogtesituasie nie beperk is tot Suid-Afrika nie maar wel oor ‘n groot deel van Suider-Afrika strek en ook verdere sosio-ekonomiese en voedselsekerheid-implikasies op streeksvlak inhou.
Goeie reëns is moontlik in die somer-reënval gebied van Suid-Afrika oor die volgende paar maande en kan steeds die droogtesiklus breek en sodoende verligting bring, veral vir saai- en veeboere. Die scenario’s dui egter toenemend op ‘n situasie waar beduidende invoere van mielies as stapelvoedsel nodig mag wees, asook die voorsiening van voer vir die instandhouding van teelkuddes.
Terwyl landboufinansiers so ver moontlik sal probeer om boere by te staan om die droogte te oorleef deur middel van skuld-konsolidering en andersins, word hulle ook beperk deur onder andere die bepalings van die Nasionale Kredietwet tot streng uitleenpraktyke waaraan hulle moet voldoen.
Gegewe die uitdagings wat die breër sektor in die gesig staar, sal ‘n taakspan bestaande uit die hoof belanghebbendes, insluitend Agri SA, Agbiz, die Landbank, IDC en die Departement van Landbou, Bosbou en Visserye (DAFF), asook andere wat genooi sal word, aksieplanne opstel om te help om die geïdentifiseerde risiko’s wat met hierdie ernstige droogte gepaardgaan te versag. Dit sal skakeling met die regering insluit om voedselsekerheid te handhaaf en die volhoubaarheid van die bedryf te verseker.
Uitgereik deur Agri SA, Direktoraat: Korporatiewe Skakeling
Navrae
Omri van Zyl, Aangewese Uitvoerende Direkteur: Agri SA – 082 4175724
John Purchase, CEO: Agbiz – 082 4412308[:]
