The panel consisted of farmers and producers from across the country, including Hansie Viljoen, a producer from Leeudoringstad in North West and 2025 Syngenta/Grain SA Grain Farmer of the Year; Jaco Minnaar, producer in Hennenman in the Free State and former Agri SA president; Richard Krige, a farmer from the Western Cape and chairperson of Grain SA; and Japie Grobler, a producer in Bothaville and former Agri SA president. The discussion was facilitated by Theo Vorster.
Minnaar opened the discussion by saying that farmers are risk takers, but stressed that they are also risk mitigators.
“You have look at the situation in which you currently find yourself and decide what you are going to do about it,” he said.
Discussing resilience amidst current challenges in the agriculture sector, Viljoen said that farmers are makers, not breakers.
“We are resilient and we know how to farm and produce food. We only need the basic infrastructure to be able to do so.”
Krige said that during good times, farmers need to build reserves to fall back onto during the more difficult times. He added that although yield was important, farming is not only about yield.
“We often only look at yield to measure success, but is more important to look at the profit and sustainability. We have to measure our crops in rands and not only in yield. If you look at your production in this way, you will be in a better position to remain profitable and weather more difficult times.”
The panellists agreed discussions around agriculture needed to be kept more positive.
“We must keep the discussions positive and focus on the opportunities in agriculture for our children,” Grobler said.
He added that farmers needed to be transparent about the challenges they were facing.
“When you find yourself in a dire position […] involve your bank, agribusiness and input suppliers.”
Viljoen agreed and said that farmers needed to rethink their strategies if need be.
“See how you can mitigate and manage risks, and if you have to sell something, ensure that you are in the market first. You have to be like a duck: calm above the water, but kicking like mad beneath the surface. You cannot be like an ostrich and stick your head in the sand and hope that things will sort themselves out.”
The panel gave the following advice to farmers in weathering the current storm and preparing for future challenges:
- Be realistic;
- Take another look at production practices;
- Take high risk and marginal soils out of production;
- Get trustworthy partners;
- Be honest with yourself;
- Be transparent with your partners;
- Be conservative;
- Remember what you have learnt in the past and talk to older, more experienced farmers;
- Determine where you wish to be at the end of the season;
- Talk to banks and agribusinesses (arrange for financing) if need be;
- Look for other revenue streams;
- Improve those things that you have control over;
- Take a stand and make decisions;
- Keep on working.
“South African farmers are resilient, and we will survive the current difficult times, but we need to take hands; we need to be prudent; and we need government to invest in infrastructure,” Krige concluded.
