‘The journey is long’

The following is a response to the article ‘Food security: Africa should be the answer’ published in the 30 November issue of Farmer’s Weekly.

This is a well-articulated article indeed. Yes, Africa can certainly be the answer to food security in a most prosperous way if only black participation in the agriculture sector would be acknowledged and accepted.

As a black farmer, my views differ from the views expressed in the article in many ways. Where are the black players in the veterinarian sciences? Where are the black agronomists? Where is their participation in auction houses, other corporations and farm stalls?

Moving forward

In order for South Africa to move forward, white farmers must fight for the inclusion of black farmers and businesspeople throughout the agri value chain. It is all well and good that President Cyril Ramaphosa has agriculture at the top of his agenda, but how much does he really know about the challenges facing black farmers? Is the president aware of the vacuum of leadership in the industry? Black farmers are now worse off than ever before. Ramaphosa’s call, ‘ Thuma mina’ (‘Send me’), is well received. But where are we being ‘sent’ as black farmers? We are on our own; we are also now expected to be looked after as if we can’t be on our own. Financial institutions will not finance us if we don’t have established agricultural institutions holding our hands as if we were small children. Who held their hands? How did they get to where they are?

‘ black farmers have a serious mountain to climb’

We acknowledge that we should work together. However, does working together mean that we are incapable of working alongside each other and have to be looked after? Are we that much of a high risk that we can’t be trusted with resources on our own? We plead to be given a chance to prove to ourselves and the world that we can do this on our own.

While BBBEE is there and AgriBEE is there, have they been of any significance over the last 24 years of South Africa’s democracy? Are there any black commercial farmers that we can take pride in? How many are there? With regards to resources that have been poured into the system, are they making the required impact? Are black farmers playing a meaningful part in so-called food security?

Mr President, we plead that you afford our sector with the kind of leadership that understands transformation. I ask that you take time to visit black farmers rather than simply being given reports by other officials that all is faring well. Going back to the article, not all is as perceived by our white South African farmers. We have a serious mountain to climb as black farmers. The road ahead is very long. Inde lendlela (‘The journey is long’)! Ronnie McKenzie, president of Farmers United of

South Africa (FUSA).

Fw archive ABOVE: This reader says that despite BBBEE and AgriBEE, the participation of black farmers and businesspeople in the agri sector is still limited.