‘Drought a chance to hone long-term plans’
AFRICAN countries devastated by the ongoing drought needed to use this opportunity to develop long-term, regional strategies in order to deal with future disasters.
This was the overwhelming message at a joint meeting held by Agri SA and the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (Sacau) in Centurion yesterday.
“We need to change the way we do things. We do things the same all the time and expect things to be different,” said Sacau chief executive Ishmael Sunga.
“What is happening now is a reflection of the conduct of our past.
“If we’d invested as much as we should have… we would not be in this situation.
“The fear is because we’re so caught up in the now, history may also repeat itself again.
“Drought gives us the opportunity to relook how we drive agriculture into the future, to think long term, think strategy.”
He believed that the current drought as well as planning for future disasters required a regional response, and as a result the two organisations were teaming up to conduct research and develop strategies for the future.
“Organised agriculture has made a conscious decision to drive the discussions and solutions around drought in the region, and Agri SA and ourselves will be playing that role to try and bring that forward and use as much influence as we have in the different structures, global and regional.”
He said they wanted to establish a regional facility dedicated purely to agriculture, which included an agricultural development fund, not necessarily to be used during drought only.
Agri SA executive director Omri van Zyl said they needed funding in order to do detailed research which looked at potential short-, medium- and long-term solutions.
They both called for partnerships with the development community, NGOs and donors to assist in driving the research and the agenda of a possible regional agricultural conference.
“From there, practical actions and assistance will then become a permanent feature, not just managing drought, but driving it into the future,” Sunga said.