This is one of the statements to emerge during the annual Agri SA Commodity Conference underway in Somerset West in the Western Cape this week. 

Pierre Venter of the Banking Association of South Africa highlighted this point during a panel discussion on disaster management. According to Twitter, he also said it is important to realise that commercial farmers are at the back of the queue in terms of the State’s priority list.

The conference is being presented under the theme “Achieve Food Security and Promote Sustainable Agriculture”. 

Key topics under discussion are: securing and expanding markets for agricultural products; competing demands on natural resources; coordinated development and purpose specific financing; disaster management; and food security as driver of public awareness of the agricultural sector.

Western Cape Agriculture Head of Department, Joyene Isaacs, participated in the development panel. In a video posted on the Agri SA Facebook page, she says commodities are central to supporting development. “I believe the participation of all provincial departments and national departments dealing with agriculture is important at a conference like this.

“Commodities are the core group between farmers and government that can support development.”

OFM News