Agri SA president Johannes Möller told Farmer’s Weekly that South Africa needed to guard against falling in the same trap as many other African countries – of creating plans that, however good they might be, were unaffordable and therefore never implemented.
“Agriculture can create one million jobs, but for that to happen a lot will have to change,” said Möller.
He referred to the need to increase funding for agricultural research and support, adding that support from government for job creation in agriculture needed to focus on the entire industry and value chain.
Möller also said legislation governing labour in agriculture would need to be relaxed to encourage farmers to employ more workers and keep their current workforce, instead of increasing on-farm mechanisation.
Ernst Jonovsky, head of ABSA AgriBusiness, shared Möller’s sentiments, saying that farmers were facing a serious cost/price squeeze and increasing productivity was key to ensuring economic sustainability.
He said that labour legislation, which placed too much pressure on farmers to increase wages, provide housing and invest in the training of workers, without offering BEE scorecard benefits in return, were forcing farmers to consider mechanisation or employ workers on a contractual rather than permanent basis.
“There’s no question that an opportunity exists for agriculture to create one million jobs, but the responsibility of creating an enabling environment in which this type of growth will be possible, rests with government,” said Janovsky.
ng 643 000 direct jobs mainly through expanding irrigation schemes, investing in labour intensive agricultural production and supporting the establishment of smallholder farmers.
#SONA2014 President Jacob Zuma: Agriculture is a key job driver. A million jobs to be created by 2030
— Farmer’s Weekly SA (@FarmersWeeklySA) June 17, 2014
The plan further suggested creating 326 000 indirect jobs in the agriculture, agro processing and related sectors.
Zuma promised support for growth in agriculture by providing “comprehensive support to smallholder farmers, by speeding up land reform and providing technical, infrastructural and financial support”.
Agri SA president Johannes Möller told Farmer’s Weekly that South Africa needed to guard against falling in the same trap as many other African countries – of creating plans that, however good they might be, were unaffordable and therefore never implemented.
“Agriculture can create one million jobs, but for that to happen a lot will have to change,” said Möller.
He referred to the need to increase funding for agricultural research and support, adding that support from government for job creation in agriculture needed to focus on the entire industry and value chain.
Möller also said legislation governing labour in agriculture would need to be relaxed to encourage farmers to employ more workers and keep their current workforce, instead of increasing on-farm mechanisation.
Ernst Jonovsky, head of ABSA AgriBusiness, shared Möller’s sentiments, saying that farmers were facing a serious cost/price squeeze and increasing productivity was key to ensuring economic sustainability.
He said that labour legislation, which placed too much pressure on farmers to increase wages, provide housing and invest in the training of workers, without offering BEE scorecard benefits in return, were forcing farmers to consider mechanisation or employ workers on a contractual rather than permanent basis.
“There’s no question that an opportunity exists for agriculture to create one million jobs, but the responsibility of creating an enabling environment in which this type of growth will be possible, rests with government,” said Janovsky.
Tagclouds – words used from the President’s speech with reference to agriculture.
