Table of Contents Foreword 3 Introduction 4-5 Organisation 6-15 Value added by Agri Wes-Cape 16-26 2013/2014 Agricultural Association affiliation fees 27 2013 Agri Wes-Cape Annual Congress 28 2014 Agri Wes-Cape regional congress resolutions 29-45 Overview of activities 46-84 Affiliates of Agri Wes-Cape 85-89 Awards and competitions 90-95 Acknowledgements 96 List of references 97 Ps 144:3-4 O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow. 2 Foreword We have again come to the end of a year’s activities at Agri Wes-Cape. The election is over and new cabinets have been formed. Political interference and the objectives of land reform, which are the main topics of debate in Parliament, create uncertainty for everyone involved in agriculture. Agriculture is excited about the future because our primary task is to produce food and fibre for a nation as well as for the export market. We want to perform this task with the support of all possible role players. Agri Wes-Cape is also in discussion with AFASA to establish a provincial ASUF. A draft agreement is being discussed. It is of particular importance to the agricultural sector within our province that organised agriculture’s structures work together closely to facilitate greater unity. Agricultural conditions again look as promising as they did last year, with a beneficial winter chill and enough water in dams and catchment areas. We hope that Namaqualand, especially Bushmanland and the Karoo region, will also receive their quota of rain. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the office staff, as well as everyone who during the past year made a contribution towards organised agriculture in the Western Cape. Use this document as a handy document to find answers to questions relating to agricultural policy as well as the work that this organisation does for you. I appreciate everyone’s support. CJU Swart PRESIDENT: AGRI WES-CAPE -------oooOOOooo------ 3 Introduction Twenty years after democracy: How long before policy-makers realise that the free-market principle is the only basis on which to transform agriculture? The 2014 election has come and gone. The cards have been shuffled and dealt. Policy-makers have added new role players to their ranks. The separation between state and ruling party has not yet been spelled out clearly so that we know who must do what. Many expectations have been created, which will not be achievable. The last ideological battle between communism/socialism and capitalism has not been fought. The current impact that labour and strikes have on our fragile economy and the heated debate around land, with 50% having to be given to farm workers, have created expectations that will never be fulfilled, especially in light of the National Development Plan and what is envisaged therein. Furthermore, the national economy is hampered by aging infrastructure that is not being maintained, while power networks and even self-generation of electricity are limited and are inhibiting economic growth. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? I believe there is, but our attitude regarding specific solutions will determine our success. There is no time for petty differences of opinion and fiddling while Rome burns. Any country’s agricultural policy influences the population as a whole. Policy that causes costs to soar or impacts on the staple diet of the people, even jeopardising food security, could mean the difference between peace and anarchy. The new Minister of Agriculture must realise the importance of free-market principles for the economy of a country. Agriculture forms part thereof, so let us make it work. Agricultural policy should meet the following requirements: 1. The decisions of agricultural producers must be influenced by MARKETS and not by government incentives and control. Producers must respond to market requirements and consumer preferences and they must be in the position to react voluntarily to such needs and preferences. 2. Food affordability is supported by the free market. To what extent do economic policies cause lower-income groups to spend more of their disposable income on food? 3. Subsidies should not be a prerequisite for a producer to produce successfully and to farm profitably. A farming unit must rely on its own merits and enjoy the fruits. 4. Property rights form the cornerstone of the free market. Without this, no economy can operate within a free market. Ownership is the best recipe for economic progress and must be retained at all costs. 5. The review of all legislation that has an impact on agriculture must receive urgent attention. This must take place simultaneously with the roll-out of the National Development Plan. 4 6. With the new dispensation where local authorities, in particular, have a greater say and will exert more influence in future, regulations must be practical and affordable. Unnecessary rules, duplication and even outdated regulations must be replaced. 7. Agricultural research must be stepped up to meet future needs so as to give agriculture a technological edge to enable it to respond timeously to signals from the market place and to meet economic requirements. 8. Free trade must be promoted aggressively. If this is not done, international access to our markets, which has a direct negative impact on local producers, must be urgently identified and addressed. Even where we struggle to market our products, especially in neighbouring countries, and experience strong opposition from trade blocs, the government of the day must do its part to defuse such blockades. The vision for a free market dispensation in agriculture starts with principles. The principles must address shortcomings, especially government plans and interventions. The current debate, especially around land, water, infrastructure, etc. creates many opportunities for facilitating co- operation with the respective spheres of government and community organisations. Rural areas need our voice and support because only agriculture can ensure that these areas reach their full potential. This includes the fact that joining hands with fellow farmers and their organisations has become more important than ever to convey agriculture’s messages to government and to create a dispensation to the benefit of the country. CB OPPERMAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER -------oooOOOooo------ 5 Organisation INTRODUCTION Agri Wes-Cape is a federal organisation with which organisations within agriculture affiliate. Each of the affiliates has an own identity based mainly on that of the primary agricultural producer. The respective organisations serve the general interests, commodity interests or business interests of the primary producer. The highest authority of Agri Wes-Cape is vested in its annual congress. The annual congress comprises the board of directors, the Executive of each of the three chambers (General Affairs, Commodity and Business Chambers), and the delegates of the respective affiliates affiliated with each chamber. The affiliates of the three chambers within Agri Wes-Cape are as follows: a General Affairs Chamber (with which the agricultural associations, district agricultural associations and the Vroue Landbou-unie are affiliated); an Agricultural Commodity Chamber (with which all the producer organisations, commodity organisations and special associations are affiliated) and an Agricultural Business Chamber (with which all agribusinesses and co-operatives are affiliated). The latter was inactive during the past report year. When the annual congress is not in session, the board of directors functions as the highest authority of Agri Wes-Cape. Besides the President and Vice President, who are elected by the annual congress, the three chambers each nominate three representatives to serve on the overarching board of directors. In addition, the Agri Wes-Cape constitution makes provision for a maximum of three additional directors to be co-opted. AGRI WES-CAPE RAAD VAN DIREKTEURE During the report year, the following persons served as directors: President CJU (Cornie) Swart Vice President DJ (Niël) Joubert General Affairs Chamber DN (Neil) Hamman (Jr) OG (Ockie) Geldenhuys HJ (Johan) Keller Agricultural Commodity Chamber CJT Krone (Chair) JW (John) Dürr (Vice Chair) R Krige Agricultural Business Chamber Vacant Co-option Messrs CJ (Chris) du Toit, JA Loubser and AC Cloete were co-opted as the three additional directors for the report year. 6 The Executive Committee of the board of directors was constituted as follows: CJU (Cornie) Swart - President DJ (Niël) Joubert - Vice-President DN (Neil) Hamman (Jr) - Chair: General Affairs Chamber CJT Krone - Chair: Commodity Chamber The Audit Committee was constituted as follows during the report year: DJ (Niël) Joubert (Chair) - Vice President JW (John) Dürr - Agri Wes-Cape Commodity Chamber OG (Ockie) Geldenhuys - Agri Wes-Cape General Affairs Chamber Agri Wes-Cape policy committees The Agri Wes-Cape board of directors appointed six policy committees to advise them on specific policy matters relating to agriculture. The members of the respective policy committees were as follows during the report year: Commercial agriculture OG (Ockie) Geldenhuys (Convenor) H (Hugo) de Waal G (George) Kuyler (MPO WC) HW (Hennie) du Plessis JE de V (Viljee) Loubser JA (Kosie) Loubser (Jr) (Young farmer) Liam Viljoen (young farmer) Natural resources G de V (Gawie) du Bois (Convenor) CJU (Cornie) Swart GJ (Gideon) van Zyl PAC (Piet) Marais AJ Louw J (Johan) Montgomery