“Unity should be our main goal as an agriculture sector, now more than ever,” he said, referring to government actions affecting property rights.
According to him, property rights are non-negotiable: “Grain SA will do everything in its power to preserve this right, and we urge all role players in the sector to come together so that we can approach this matter with one strong voice.
“We have already joined hands with Agbiz and AgriSA and urge all [other] credible institutions within our ranks to join us. We need to stop throwing stones at each other, because it turns serious issues into cheap politics.”
Krige also addressed some of the major challenges farmers face to make ends meet.
“Farmers in this room are the heartbeat of agriculture and, despite a volatile market, you still delivered the goods and kept up production to meet the nation’s needs.
“However, I am deeply concerned about the continued rise in input costs versus low commodity prices.”
He warned that ongoing political unrest in the Middle East will play a critical role in resource management and rising input costs in the coming weeks, potentially changing their outlook on the future.
According to Krige, Grain SA has already approached the financial sector to find short- and long-term solutions to support farmers during this period. The organisation also helps producers by sharing valuable information in a timely manner.
“We believe that knowledge-sharing is a powerful tool that helps farmers navigate this complex agricultural landscape and empowers them to make informed decisions,” he explained.
“Our members enable us to build a strong voice in the industry, and your active participation has only made us stronger over the years. Thank you for empowering us to stay the course.”
Krige said he wants the industry to move forward by investing in the latest genetics and on-farm technologies.
“To stay relevant, we need to have access to a wide spectrum of technological solutions. As Grain SA, we want to strengthen our farmers by giving them market access to innovative solutions; it’s the only way we will keep our competitive edge and curb input costs. That is why Grain SA forges strong bonds with role players in the value chain.”
However, he urged agricultural suppliers to become more transparent when it comes to pricing, as farmers are exposed to global pricing on essential products like fertilisers.
“We need to make sure our farmers’ needs stay front and centre in the value chain,” he concluded.
