Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt, president of AgriSA. (Photo: Janice du Plessis/Maroela Media)
South African farmers work daily under difficult conditions, but despite the challenges, their love for agriculture remains stronger than ever.
According to AgriSA, the industry must now deliberately express more of that passion and hope – especially to encourage young people to still see their future in local agriculture.
Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt, president of AgriSA, said during the Orange River Agricultural Union’s (ORLU) 46th congress at Upington that it remains essential that the industry conveys a positive message about South African agriculture.
“Farmers increasingly farm in an extreme environment and agriculture’s complexity makes it difficult to stay positive all day, but it is a profession we love very much and an industry that is close to our hearts.
“Many times it will sound like there is too much complaining, but we enjoy what we do. We have a passion for what we do and it remains a great privilege to put enough food on people’s tables.”
He believes that farmers should deliberately emphasize the positive side of the industry.
“It is therefore very important for us that we must be positive about agriculture and that our life speaks about the industry. We live close to nature and we are people who do it in faith. We believe in what we do and we have a dependency about which we must be positive.”
(Archive photo: Jo Raubenheimer)
According to De Chavonnes Vrugt, it is important that young people also see the opportunities in local agriculture.
“To be positive about agriculture and to speak life about agriculture also brings hope for the future. We would like to see more and more young people get involved in South African agriculture. We often see that our young people choose to go farming in another place instead, and when we talk we tell them just how difficult and hard it is to farm in South Africa today, but at the same time we enjoy what we do.”
He says AgriSA is currently focusing strongly on communication, image building and capacity development in the industry.
“We must make sure to convey that message clearly that it is fun to farm in South Africa. At AgriSA we have three points on which we mainly focus. We must communicate and communicate successfully, we must promote the image of agriculture and we must build capacity in the agricultural industry.”
De Chavonnes Vrugt emphasized that rural safety remains AgriSA’s biggest priority.
“This is the foundation on which the entire industry rests, because without security there is no sustainability. We cannot allow the people who have to feed the nation to live in fear.
“We will continue to put pressure on government and law enforcement agencies, while also strengthening our own rural security structures. It’s not just about protecting assets; it’s about protecting human lives and safeguarding South Africa’s food security.”
Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt, president of AgriSA. (Photo: Janice du Plessis/Maroela Media)
‘Organized agriculture is voice for farmers’
Dawie Maree, the head of information and marketing at FNB Agriculture, emphasized the strategic value of organized agricultural structures.
According to Maree, individual producers would find it almost impossible to protect their interests without organized structures.
Dawie Maree, the head of information and marketing at FNB Agriculture. (Photo: Janice du Plessis/Maroela Media)
“Organized agriculture is a voice for agriculture. If organized agriculture is not there, each individual farmer has to negotiate with the government, which is practically impossible. The costs that farmers will have to pay if organized agriculture is not there are incalculable. Organized agriculture is like an insurance premium – if you need him, he is there,” said Maree.
He pointed out that organized agriculture also plays an important role in promoting confidence in the sector.
“However, organized agriculture also has a responsibility. As a banking industry, we often look at what organized agriculture says and how they see things and we stay in dialogue with them. They have the responsibility to act responsibly, specifically to give banks that assurance that risk will be reduced.
“The role of organized agriculture is often underestimated. Organized agriculture such as AgriSA, Agri-Northern Cape, ORLU and farmers’ associations are extremely important.”
Although the challenges in South African agriculture still remain great, the dominant message of the ORLU congress clearly showed that there is still hope for the industry. Through cooperation, strongly organized agriculture and a deliberate positive attitude, agricultural leaders believe that farmers will not only survive challenges, but will continue to play a defining role in South Africa’s economy and food security.