Government of National Unity should recognise agriculture as a 'force for good'

The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa has warned that the country’s agriculture sector must not become a casualty of politics.

- Annelie Coleman

The South African agriculture sector must not become a casualty of politics. This warning was issued by South African Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) on the eve of the formation of a Government of National Unity in the country.

In a recent weekly market viewpoint, Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, described agriculture as “a force for good in growing the South African economy and advancing the country’s place on the global map”.

“As various political parties deliberate on the future [of South Africa], they must keep the agriculture sector uppermost in their mind. This is a sector that should offer an avenue of convergence across the political spectrum: it is crucial for rural development, food security and employment creation,” he said.

Jaco Minnaar, president of Agri SA, meanwhile told Farmer’s Weekly that it was imperative that whoever ran the country in future took cognisance of the fact that the agriculture sector played an integral part in the South African economy and rural economies in particular.