Farming groups react to agriculture master plan
WHILE Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko Didiza has welcomed the recent signing of the first Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP), there have been mixed reactions from farming groups.
The document was co-signed by government and organised agricultural groupings.
The master plan aims to promote inclusive agricultural growth, a transparent and predictable policy environment, equitable access to the means of production and financing, competitive and transformed food value chains, food-secure households, decent jobs, better working conditions and farm safety.
Speaking at the signing ceremony last week, Didiza said the vision of the AAMP was to achieve globally competitive agriculture and agro-processing sectors that drive market-oriented and inclusive production to develop rural economies and ensure food security, while growing employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
She added that to ensure that all key issues by social partners were fully explored, the AAMP document made provision for two processes to be taken forward after the signing ceremony.
“The first is a ‘built-in agenda’ which unpacks the modalities, powers and composition of delivery models such as value chain round tables, transformation schemes pursued through a public-private partnership to increase black farmers’ participation in production, and labour forums to address conditions of labour. The AAMP also makes provisions to address unfinished business pertaining to issues of infrastructure, specific aspects of transformation, financing instruments and other labour issues.”
Christo van der Rheede, executive director at Agri SA said that Agri SA welcomed the signing of the AAMP.
“This occasion marks the culmination of years of negotiation and consensus-building throughout the sector, and is a testament to our shared commitment to the success and growth of this crucial sector.”
Van der Rheede added that Agri SA played an active part in the crafting of the AAMP and were proud of the result of these efforts.
“Under the leadership of Dr John Purchase, the agricultural sector has created a master plan that provides comprehensive support to both emerging and commercial farmers. The plan takes a holistic view of the sector and addresses wide-ranging issues from land reform and infrastructure to working conditions on farms and social security for workers.”
Van der Rheede said that Agri SA was satisfied that the plan that emerged reflects a balanced approach to the primary concerns of the sector’s many role-players.
“These include ensuring South Africa’s food security, promoting the sustainable transformation of the sector, enhancing South Africa’s competitiveness, and creating an enabling policy environment, among others.”
Van der Rheede added that Agri SA was, however, mindful that the master plan is a theoretical framework and a work in progress.
“Several aspects of the plan will require further engagement and negotiation, and none of them can be achieved without commitment and collaboration. We are committed to working with all the master plan’s signatories and the sector’s stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the plan.”
Bennie van Zyl, TLU (Transvaal Landbou-Unie) SA general manager, said the union was disillusioned with the process that took place around the AAMP’s development process.
“Certain undertakings have been given regarding inputs that will be considered. For this reason, TLU SA already took a strong stance on May 21, 2021, in a letter consisting of 10 pages that was submitted. Assurance was given that it would be dealt with, but it never happened.”
Agbiz CEO Theo Boshoff said: “The AAMP is the first multistakeholder process to accurately quantify the investment needed in various catalytic interventions to unlock the sector’s potential for inclusive growth.
“One must understand that a social compact will always contain trade-offs and compromises between parties with differing interests.
“That being said, the master plan is built on sound economic principles that will allow parties to distil the concepts into actionable plans during the next phase.”