It certainly looks like a thorough process and surely, when all is said and done, nobody will be able to complain of not being offered a chance to comment. The bill has its origins in the Ministerial Interim Committee (MIC) report set up a few years ago to come up with proposals for improving the fresh produce markets. At the time of the release of the report in 2010, I and many others expressed serious reservations about its suggestions.
Desire to control?
The committee appointed to produce the report looked more like a ‘political tool’ than an attempt at a balanced assessment of the needs of the industry. While incorporating much of the MIC report, the new draft bill has, I believe, taken on a much larger persona. For example, it seeks “to co-ordinate the marketing of agricultural products both domestically internationally” (Objects of the Agency, Section 8).
What does that mean? Either it has huge implications for fresh produce marketing, or smacks of a possible ‘control board’ in the future – or it might just be there ‘in case it’s needed one day’. Certainly, I don’t know what the authors of the clause had in mind. On the local front, fresh produce is marketed in a variety of ways and, despite the usual challenges that always exist, the present system seems to work pretty well.
As far as exports go, I’m lost. What exactly are the authors saying? Our fresh produce export sector is well-organised, competent, highly regarded abroad and does a great job at promoting our products around the world. How on earth can a bureaucratic organisation, staffed no doubt by ‘appointees’, do a better job?
We don’t know what the final bill will look like when it eventually reaches the national assembly for final ratification. But let’s hope the department of agriculture gets it right – for the good of the country.
Contact Mike Cordes at [email protected]. Please state ‘Market floor’ in the subject line of your email.
