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Grain SA extends its sincere congratulations to Minister Willie Aucamp on his appointment as South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture.
Grain SA Chairperson Richard Krige said the organisation looks forward to building a constructive and productive partnership with Minister Aucamp in support of South Africa’s grain producers, agricultural value chains and rural economies.
“We welcome Minister Aucamp to the agricultural sector and look forward to working closely with him as we address the significant opportunities and challenges facing South African agriculture. Organised agriculture stands ready to partner with the Minister and his department to strengthen the competitiveness, profitability and sustainability of the sector.”
Grain SA would also like to express its appreciation to Minister John Steenhuisen for his service to agriculture and for the productive working relationship he established with organised agriculture and the Department of Agriculture during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture. Grain SA values the collaborative approach that developed under his leadership and wishes him well in his new role as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
The grain sector will continue to depend on Minister Steenhuisen in his new capacity to assist in addressing several urgent matters affecting grain producers, particularly the wheat tariff regime and the protection of local wheat farmers who face increasingly unfair international competition.
Failure to adequately support domestic wheat production risks the erosion of economic activity, employment opportunities and future investment in rural communities, particularly across the Western Cape wheat-producing regions. Grain SA also calls for urgent attention to the administration of the tariff and rebate system within the Southern African Customs Union, where the existing BLEN rebate on imported wheat undermines the objectives of tariff protection by allowing imported wheat to enter regional markets without equivalent tariff treatment.
Minister Aucamp assumes leadership of the agricultural portfolio at a particularly challenging time for grain producers. The sector is experiencing severe pressure from depressed international commodity prices, rising input costs and a stronger rand, all of which are rendering grain production unprofitable and unsustainable.
South Africa is currently confronted with grain surpluses in several commodities, making it essential to expand export opportunities, develop biofuel markets, encourage greater value addition through livestock and protein industries, and accelerate the implementation of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan. Expanding domestic and international demand for South African grain products will be critical to restoring profitability across the sector.
Grain SA will also look to Minister Aucamp to continue the important work undertaken in modernising South Africa’s agricultural regulatory framework, including progress relating to Act 36, improved regulatory efficiency and enabling access to new plant-breeding and precision-breeding technologies. Continued investment and innovation will be essential if South African producers are to remain globally competitive and maintain access to the best technologies available internationally.
“South African grain producers can compete with the best farmers in the world when they have access to the right technologies, sound policy frameworks and fair market conditions. We believe Minister Aucamp’s practical understanding of agriculture and rural development positions him well to build a strong partnership with organised agriculture and help unlock the sector’s full potential.”
Grain SA remains committed to working constructively with government and all stakeholders to ensure a thriving, competitive and sustainable grain industry that contributes to food security, economic growth and job creation throughout South Africa.
Issued by:
Richard Krige
Chairperson, Grain SA
Media Enquiries:
Grain SA Communications Office