James Martin, an independent agricultural transformation consultant and facilitator, says that transformation is a critical goal, but expecting power imbalances and prejudice to simply disappear is unreasonable. He believes that real change will only happen once we start changing human behaviour to shift perceptions, so that we can meet as equals.
When I think of transformation in the South African agricultural sector, I am reminded of a story of a Second World War sniper. A group of German prisoners of war were being led, hands above their heads, out of a building by their Allied captors. High above them, a German sniper, unaware of his compatriots’ capture, shot one of the Allied captors. Suddenly finding themselves under fire, the Allied soldiers gunned down the German prisoners of war. The sniper had anticipated achieving a small victory, but had been unaware of the tremendously negative consequences of his misguided action.
In South Africa, our endeavours towards achieving agricultural transformation remind me of that scene. The South African players could be substituted with the characters described above: there is misunderstanding, a limited view of the situation, and ultimately, suffering through misaligned communication and an incomplete grasp of the landscape. It seems that we are all at each other’s throats.
THE PLAYERS
There are commercial farmers willing to actively participate in agricultural transformation, even though they are kept awake at night by their worries about cash flow, weather patterns, broken tractors, labour relations, their bank managers, and the possibility of an attack on their families.
So what is this thing called agricultural transformation, and what more can be expected from these commercial farmers in making it real? They are already sending the children of their staff to good schools, their induna is almost a family member, and they are actively involved in the community school. What more can they do in their already overloaded day?
Denne historien er fra 23 June 2017-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra 23 June 2017-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
