Three key challenges facing South Africa’s agricultural landscape — ownership, skills and demand for produce — will be addressed by a diverse panel of Christ-centered experts at the third Bridge Building Land Summit in Paarl on October 24.
The event is a sequel to the first summit which was held in Johannesburg in February, hosted by New Nation Movement and Amos Agrimin; and a second summit in Middelburg in the Karoo in June.
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The organisers of this month’s summit believe the solution to the trilemma facing the agricultural industry depends on the formation of real relationships and practical projects that promote skills development, encourage new commercial farming ventures and address land reform in an equitable manner.
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The organising committee’s Jan Oosthuizen, who is also a member of Harvester Church and Prosphero Consulting, says the Bridge Building Land Summit places value on face-to-face interaction, especially among commercial farmers, emerging and small-scale farmers, agricultural students, all agricultural businesses (finance, training, processing, import/export) and stakeholders in agricultural development and sustainability.
According to Oosthuizen, the first summit succeeded in starting a network and think tank of people who continue to grow in relationship with one another, while the second event was aimed at reaching out to agricultural students and facilitating the placement of students for internships on farms via the organisation, Future Farmers. The previous events have resulted in the development of 14 models of Christ-centred value-based land reform.
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“The 3rd summit will seek an economic outcome – learning from companies and businesses that have embraced enterprise development and inclusive business models where they’ve given black farmers land or formed partnerships to promote land reform, etc. and seeing if we can establish further projects of a similar nature,” he says.
He says that the summit will have robust, live discussion, live data polling and facilitated expert and specialist debate, an element of keynote speaking and facilitated workshops to build projects.
Specific questions and problems will be explored in respect of each of the challenges. “In terms of skills, these include identifying the skills needed to succeed in agriculture, the biggest skills shortages in establishing successful farming ventures, the role of social capital and organised agriculture and explaining mentorship in a farming context.
“With demand, the focus will be on identifying the retail and wholesale linkages that are in most need of repair and new funding mechanisms that are available, analysing whether land reform simply adds to the complexity of the value chain and whether food production should take preference in land reform given the growing population, as well as highlighting best practice for farming venture and how do I access it?
“With regard to ownership, we will discuss the complexities of deeds and title transfers, the main qualitative and quantitative incentives to get involved in land reform, the possible emotional response to the argument of entitlement vs responsibility and how we deal with it, understanding what productivity looks like in land reform and the structures and vehicles most fit for use in new farming ventures,” Oosthuizen states.
The panel and speakers at the upcoming summit will include Chief Economist at Agbiz, Wandile Sihlobo. Lands Claims Judge Dr Wallace Mgoqi, Vito Rugani from Greenway Farms, MD at Six33 Investments Pieter Wasserval, entrepreneur and farmer, Ollie Le Roux, Nokubonga Ndima from Future Farmers, Annelize Crosby from Legal and Policy Agri SA, GM Food services Shoprite Checkers Lance Van Der Spuy, CEO of Hortfin Michael Brinkhuis and many more.
It will take place from 9am until 7pm on Thursday October 24. To register for the summit, visit the website www.landsummit.co.za.
FACING THE LAND EXPROPRIATION THREAT THE CHRISTIAN WAY
with reference to a video circulating on social media showing how Blacks pose a threat to Whites over
the “Land Expropriation Without Compensation” vote passed by the ANC/EFF majority in Parliament
The ‘Coloured folk are drunkards’, and the ‘Indians lie, for sure’,
the ‘Blacks are always lazy’, and the ‘Whites oppress the poor’.
‘Nigerians deal in drugs’, and ‘Americans are loud’,
all ‘Muslims are the terrorists’, and ‘Christians – they are proud’.
Such prejudice craves ster’otypes to nourish what we feel,
but Truth looks at all angles, to ascertain what’s real.
For ev’ry statement has some truth, so recognise the whole,
and balance out the pros and cons – let Honesty control.
Let’s pray for farmers who have fed us, now in this hard place,
so many still depend on them, they all need God’s strong grace.
Pray they’ll have wisdom to decide how they should plan ahead,
and that God give them and their workers their own daily bread.
Now watch again this Video and hear its listed facts,
note: every fact selected tells of true attested acts.
Then add the chosen pictures, till emotion’s in the mix –
while no-one seeks God’s remedy these troubles now to fix.
See: others could find other facts, and cancel those you choose,
not ‘Blood River’, but ‘Sharpeville’ and ‘Soweto’ they would use.
They’d show some White atrocities to prove that they are right
in seeking to avenge their suff’ring under cruel Whites.
So: Listen to their other tale that’s equally as true –
though fav’ring other people who’ve diff’rent point of view!
Then pray for consultation in the search for middle ground,
and thank the Lord when this ideal eventually is found.
Remember, both are guilty when examined by the Lord
who’ll give to each on Judgment Day their fair and just reward. 2 Cor 5:10
He judges all for deeds they did, and no one’s wholly good, Rom 3:10
God calls us all to turn around and live the way we should. Acts 17:30
Do nothing out of selfishness, be loving in your mind, Phil 2:1-4 (5-11)
and think of Others’ int’rests; to your own be humbly blind.
For all things may be lawful, but not all will edify – 1 Cor 10:23
so work for peace and building up, don’t ruin and destroy. Rom 14:19
Hugh G Wetmore © March 2018
Metre: 14.14.14.14 Tune: Auld Lang Syne
All, at Christ’s judgement, will receive what is due for the good or bad things done in the body.
There is no one righteous, not even one.
God now commands all people everywhere to repent.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others, with the attitude of Jesus.
Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial, nor is it constructive/edifying.
Make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God.