Top agri-economist dies
MOHAMMAD KARAAN: SA ACADEMIC RESPECTED INTERNATIONALLY Contributor to national development plan and founding member of FairPlay.
Professor Mohammad Karaan, one of South Africa’s leading agricultural economists and a founding member of FairPlay’s panel of experts, died from Covid-19 on Wednesday.
Founder of the FairPlay movement Francois Baird said yesterday the movement was mourning his death.
“Prof Karaan was known and respected throughout the agricultural sector. Known for his intellect, insight and often forceful opinions on agricultural matters, he agreed to join our expert panel when it was formed,” Baird said. “We will miss his sage advice and his friendship.”
A professor in agricultural economics at Stellenbosch University, Karaan was a former dean of the faculty of agrisciences at the university, from which he first graduated in 1990. He went on to obtain his MSc (Agric) in 1994 and his PhD (Agric) in 2006 at the same university.
He was a member of the National Planning Commission, had served in executive positions on the Land Bank and the Agricultural Research Council and was a former president of the South African Society of Agricultural Economists.
He served on the boards of various companies and had chaired a ministerial committee that reviewed the Agricultural Marketing Act. He was also a successful entrepreneur.
At the time of his death, he was a management committee member of the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University.
“Prof Karaan brought to the FairPlay movement not only his deep expertise and sage advice, but always made his extensive network available to our cause,” Baird said.
“He made time for us and like all of us at FairPlay, he stood on the side of the people. He genuinely cared about people, especially those who are poor, powerless and voiceless. We are distraught at his passing. FairPlay extends its heartfelt condolences to Prof Karaan’s family, friends and colleagues.”
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza said she was greatly saddened to learn of Karaan’s passing.
Didiza described the professor as a giant in South Africa’s agriculture, who had made an enormous contribution to policy and academia.
“Prof Karaan’s passing is a massive loss for the country, at a time when we need leading development thinkers and practitioners like him the most, as the country begins to implement the economic recovery plan,” said Didiza.
“Chapter six of the National Development Plan was largely drawn from his vision for agricultural and rural development, which emphasised a need for public-private partnership approaches in agricultural development.”
According to Stellenbosch University, at the time of his death on Wednesday, Karaan was professor of agricultural economics and president of Maties Rugby.
“It’s really shocking to hear of Professor Mohammad Karaan’s untimely death. He was a particularly valued and beloved colleague who made his mark – at SU, but also nationally and internationally,” rector and vice-chancellor professor Wim de Villiers, said.
The dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences, professor Danie Brink, said they would remember him as a remarkable leader, conciliator, true influencer in agricultural circles and a friend.
Karaan is survived by his wife, Basheerah and children, Zayne, Kamilah, Tauriq, Burhan and Adam.
“It really is a big loss, and our hearts go out to his family in this very sad time,” De Villiers added.
Particularly valued and beloved colleague