Agriculture

The main benefits for the Province will emanate for the relationships built by Minister Meyer during the following activities:

a]   Supporting Western Cape exhibitors such as Kobie van Breda: Tractor technologist from Stellenbosch

b]   View Innovation, Technology and Precision Agriculture.

c]    Preparation for Nampo: Western Cape during September 2022 in Bredasdorp

d]   Sign a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] between the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Grain SA as part of the Department’s commodity appraoch

e]   Take advantage of engagement opportunity with the representative of Zambia Agriculture.

f] Participate in “Nation in Conversation” [Infrastructure and revival of rural small towns].

g]   Facilitate collaborative discussions between the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and Free State University

h]   Have a discussion with the Leadership Academy at the North-West University.

i]    Have a conversation with PALS: Western Cape [Ceres: Lennox Jantjies].

j]    Talk to Agri-SA [Christo van de Rheede].

k]   Radio talk at OFM regarding infrastructure in Agriculture.

l]    Discussion with RSG / Network 24 about Agriculture in the Western Cape.

m]  Discussion with the CEO of Senwes; the main sponsor of Nampo.

n]   Visit John Deere's new technology and precision farming exhibit.

o]   Have discussions with young learners who take agricultural subjects at school [Northern Cape and Gauteng].

p]   Visit the exhibition of the Agricultural Research Council.

q]   Meeting with the Ambassador of Ukraine.

r]    Meeting with Agri-Gauteng's General Manager.

 

In addition to the Ministerial activities, some Western Cape officials attended Nampo.  Their observations include:

a]   As officials from the Department need to be in the position to advise their clients, it was very valuable to see the latest technology from all over the world.

b]   Identifying the latest machinery [e.g. for making silage and hay] which could be used by the Department to become more efficient.

c]    Officials had the opportunity to engage with the role players in a more informal way.  As a result, the Dormer Breeders association will visit Elsenburg [where the Dormer Breed was developed]. 

d]   Identifying new and innovative technologies.  For instance, by measuring electric connectivity with a bar at the back of a bakkie, one can determine the conditions of roads and soil quality up to 1,5 to 2 metres by using four sensors.

e]   Benchmarking of what the Department is doing against the private sector.  For instance, it was found that the Department is right at the forefront of using drone technology.

f]    It is interesting to observe how the debate amongst farmers changed.  In 2019 the debate was all about expropriation of land without compensation and now it is about technology, food security and efficiency.

g]   Officials could engage suppliers with the challenges being experiencing with equipment.

h]   It was good to be reminded of how complicated farming is.

i]    The role of agriculture in the rural economy was demonstrated.

j]    It was interesting to observe how low conservation farming is as a priority in the Northern provinces.

k]   The debate between the extra cost to obtain the latest technology versus the lower efficiency of old equipment has not been settled yet.

l]    It was good to meet with Western Cape businesses and establish renewed relationships towards cooperation.