Steenhuisen is the farmers' man

Any minister who isn’t corrupt is already a positive change expert.

- Marizka Coetzer

There was a general feeling of optimism and hope for change among farmers over the appointment on Sunday of DA leader John Steenhuisen as the minister of agriculture.

Southern African Agri Initiative CEO Theo de Jager welcomed the appointment of Steenhuisen and the prospect that commercial agriculture can benefit from greater efficiency in the department.

De Jager said the new administration opens up exciting opportunities for farmers, with a spirit of excitement and expectation in the sector.

"His appointment raises hopes that the narrow ideological emphasis on race and party-political loyalty that has characterised the agriculture department's appointments, policy and output for decades will now be a thing of the past," he said.

De Jager said the departments of trade and industry, environmental affairs, transport, land reform and rural development and water affairs were no less important to farmers and also hoped for radical change in those areas.