Growing smarter to deal with climate change
BOTHAVILLE - Day three of Nampo, the largest agricultural exhibition in Sub-Saharan Africa, was in full swing in Bothaville, in the Free State on Thursday.
WATCH: Nampo 2025 | Bothaville hosts agricultural exhibition
The annual event attracts approximately 80,000 visitors, including farmers, agribusiness leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the continent and beyond.
The expo exhibitors offer insight into the latest in agricultural machinery, crop and livestock technologies, and sustainable farming practices.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
30-05-2025
- IOL News
Farmer brain drain could be worse than export loss for SA agriculture
Financial and non-financial incentives must be upscaled to all farmers, especially the developing black farmers, to ensure farmers are committed and not persuaded by short-term political promises in the foreign countries, says the author. Image: File. While excluding South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) would have dire consequences, the emigration of real Afrikaner farmers would be even more damaging to the agricultural sector and the rural economy. Since the departure of 49 white people, who are supposedly farmers, seeking refuge in the US, the country and the agricultural sector have been concerned with the potential Afrikaners exodus to the US. Interestingly, the departure of the 49 self-designated refugees to the US coincided with the NAMPO period, the biggest agricultural show in South Africa. For the past 57 years, NAMPO draws attention of farmers, traders, bankers, technocrats, and other service providers to gather in the Bothaville town and celebrate the grain harvest, appreciate new technologies and agricultural equipment, and welcome new research. The 2025 NAMPO event was particularly unique as it attracted the attention of top public figures and become a diplomatic channel to communicate a message to international communities. President Ramaphosa and Deputy President Mashatile visited the NAMPO event and received a warm and jubilant welcome from true farmers that affirmed their commitment to the country and their devotion to farming. Other prominent public leaders that visited this year's NAMPO event were Minister John Steenhuisen and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Lotriet. The common message emanating from these visits was that there is neither ethnic cleansing nor Afrikaner extermination in the country. Essentially, they dispel the US decision to grant special refugee status to white Afrikaners on the basis of imaginary genocides in South Africa. How Important Is US and Afrikaners to SA Agriculture? Deducing from the messages of farmers and prominent public and private leaders who attended the NAMPO week, there is a solid consensus that farming communities and South Africans, as a whole, are united behind their rainbow nation flag and are opposed to the deluded decision by the Potus. While this may breed confidence and resilience that South Africans are well known for across the globe, it is also important to not lose sight of domestic structural and systematic pitfalls that fuel divisional views that subsequently taint the image of the country in the world. First, is the need to review the current agricultural growth strategy that depends on global demand and innovations while negating the need to build local capabilities on technology and research.\ Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Agoa is important Agoa is one of the important trade agreements that enable South African farmers to produce and export products like fruits, nuts, wine, fish, and prepared foods. Without a doubt, access to the US market has been one of the critical growth factors for South African agriculture. The US accounted for 4% of South Africa's agricultural exports in 2024, suggesting it is not the largest destination market for farmers. However, looking at only trade data could be deceiving because the US's influence on South African agriculture goes beyond trade relations. When the US enacted Agoa in 2000, it aimed to strengthen trade, economic and political co-operation with African states. It is not a coincidence that the biggest companies providing seeds, agrochemicals, and technical services to South African farmers either originate in the US or at least have strong ties with US investors. This illustrates the interconnectedness and high dependency of South Africa's agriculture and food system on the global economy. While thinking global is important but acting local is vital to build resilience, sustainability and inclusivity. Second, it is the lagging development and transformation in the agricultural sector, which at times causes conflicts and division amongst farmers. On February 18, 2025, Minister Steenhuisen painted a concerning picture where he outlined that 90% of agricultural output is from white farmers. Slow transformation Wandile Sihlobo and Johann Kirsten in their book titled, 'The Uncomfortable Truth About South Africa's Agriculture' affirmed these figures and further highlighted the mushrooming divisions amongst farmer organisations. The slow transformation pace tends to portray white farmers, mainly Afrikaners, as the barriers to commercial agriculture which raises frustrations amongst other population groups which are yet to enjoy the full dividends of democracy. Behind these challenges are limited government support to farmers and decaying off-farm infrastructure and stringent market standards that proportionately disadvantaged black farmers. To resolve these challenges, government and private sector must put their hands on the deck to emulate the South African spirit of unity that was radiating in this year's NAMPO. This means the government must upscale its Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and the land reform. Private sector initiatives such as Metropolitan Collective Shapers, Karan Beef Emerging Academy and HortFin by Fruit South Africa, amongst others, must be promoted and encouraged to expand to all provinces in the country. These private and public programmes will encourage all farmers to work together to build a sustainable and growing agricultural sector. Through these collaborations, real Afrikaner farmers who may be considering emigrating to the US, would be able to realise that they will be foregoing centuries of hard work and investment in agriculture, thus making them to stay. Financial and non-financial incentives must be upscaled to all farmers, especially the developing black farmers, to ensure farmers are committed and not persuaded by short-term political promises in the foreign countries. Agriculture will strive through partnerships. Sifiso Ntombela is an agricultural economist. Image: Supplied Dr Sifiso Ntombela is the President of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa. He served as the Special Adviser to the former minister Thoko Didiza in the Department of Agriculture, land Reform and Rural Development. Contact details: sifiso@ BUSINESS REPORT
eNCA
16-05-2025
- eNCA
Farmers call for more government support
BOTHAVILLE, FREE STATE - Agriculture remains a key driver of economic growth, although issues such as poor infrastructure and limited market access, is stifling the sector. Farmers have repeatedly called on government for more support to address these problems. READ: Trade show to plough through agriculture sector issues Sector leaders have met over the past three days at NAMPO, one of the largest agri expos in southern hemisphere. ENCA business anchor Rofhiwa Madzena spoke to Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- The Citizen
Expropriation Act panel discussion sparks debate at Nampo 2025
The signing of the Expropriation Act into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year sparked lively debate on land reform and property rights, with agricultural leaders and legal experts unpacking its potential impact during a Nation in Conversation panel at Nampo 2025. A panel of experts examined the signing of the Act's potential effects on property rights, land ownership, and the broader agricultural landscape, Farmer's Weekly reported. Different interpretations of the law Waldimar Pelser led the discussion that aimed to provide clarity on the Act's provisions and its anticipated impact on commercial farming operations. Although the topic of the discussion was understanding the implications of South Africa's Expropriation Act on agriculture, it was clear that amongst the panel members and also the general public, there is no consensus on the understanding of certain aspects of the new law. The panel members were Willem de Chavonnes Vrugt, deputy president of Agri SA; Dean McPherson, Minister of Public Works, and Infrastructure; Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at Solidarity; Hermann Pretorius, Head of Strategic Communications at the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR); and Theo Boshoff, CEO of Agbiz. According to McPherson, the new Act standardised the procedures in which expropriation could take place. 'The Act provides a uniform procedure that must be followed whenever expropriation takes place. It is an improvement on the 1975 Act which did not have the clauses and procedures guiding these processes. The Act exists to drive the economy and infrastructure development. It must be seen as a tool for economic development and growth.' He also referred to the 'nil-compensation' provisions in Section 12(3), and said that in reality, nil compensation would be lawful under the Act. Compensation is a delicate balancing act According to Boshoff and De Chavonnes Vrugt, the 'nil-compensation' provisions are not as clear-cut as other elements contained in the Act, and are rightly the most controversial part of the law. Its impact is also the most difficult to predict, as compensation is not a simple equation; it is a delicate balancing of rights that will differ from case to case. 'Agri SA remains dedicated to protecting private property rights and fostering the growth and stability of South Africa's agriculture sector. Agri SA actively participated in the Expropriation Bill drafting process, including Parliamentary and National Economic Development and Labour Council discussions, from 2013 to 2020. We have been involved in the process from the start and what we have now is a better option than what we started with,' said De Chavonnes Vrugt. The Act facilitates the expropriation of land with no compensation under specific conditions in the public interest. 'While Agri SA is supporting the need for transformation and land reform in the agriculture sector, it must not come at the expense of the economy and investor confidence,' De Chavonnes Vrugt said. Expropriation not an exception of property rights According to Boshoff, Section 25 of the Constitution is commonly referred to as the property clause with the aim of safeguarding property rights from arbitrary deprivation. The same rules apply to expropriation. Where the state requires private property for a public purpose or in the public interest, there must be a legitimate reason, and the reason must be contained in legislation. 'Expropriation is therefore not an 'exception', nor a 'watering down' of property rights because no expropriation can take place outside of the law or for an arbitrary reason,' Boshoff explained. 'The Act is a means to an end and not the end itself,' Boshoff said. 'The Act provides that the state can only expropriate [property] if it has failed to buy the property on reasonable terms. It's a deadlock-breaking mechanism that can only be used as a last resort. Expropriation is certainly not a 'shortcut' for the state to acquire property, as the procedures that the state must follow are far more onerous than buying the property in question.' He further explained that in the case of expropriation, the normal verification process would still need to be followed to prove a valid claim before expropriation can take place. 'If it does, the provisions of the Expropriation Act will apply.' According to McPherson, if the Expropriation Act was not enacted, the authority to expropriate property for various reasons would still exist. 'The difference is that the procedure contained in the old, 1975 Act would then be applied. This act predates the Constitution, and the process it prescribes is unlikely to pass constitutional muster.' The ministers pointed out that the Constitution requires compensation to be just and equitable, reflecting an equitable balance between the public's interest and that of the affected parties. 'All relevant factors must be considered, but the overriding standard is still that the compensation must be just and equitable.' If the reaction to the Act is anything to go by, there are clearly very different expectations surrounding this Act. According to Boshoff, the real risk does not lie in nil compensation but in protracted and expensive litigation. 'The possibility exists' Kleynhans however, expressed concern with the wording in the Act and said that Solidarity does not like the processes described in the Act. 'It leaves the possibility that farm land can be expropriated and that litigation in this regard can take long to the detriment of the farmer.' He said that according to Solidarity's knowledge, South Africa is already experiencing disinvestments due to the Act. Kleynhans stated that South Africa did not need expropriation for land reform. 'There is land available to cater to those needs.' 'Court has been 'innovative' with water and mineral rights legislation' Pretorius noted that there were a number of legal uncertainties in the current Act and referred to sections 8 and 13(2), while also pointing out the uncertainty around the 180 days allowed for the Constitutional Court to become involved. He also said that he did not have confidence in the Constitutional Court, and described the court as being 'innovative' in its application of water and mineral rights legislation. 'As far as we are concerned, that could be the same situation with land ownership.' He also referred to the alternative Act that the IRR has created and invited the public to read it and give their comments. McPherson concluded by acknowledging that there were aspects of the Act that are contentious and that created uncertainty. 'The contradictions can be addressed and solved. We can have discussions and provide answers and solutions that can be satisfactory to the vast majority of people. I encourage discussions and hearing the different points of views as these opens up the floor for finding common ground and working towards finding solutions.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
