GRAAFF-REINET NEWS – Graaff-Reinet farmers worried about the effects of an ongoing crippling drought, mooted land expropriation without compensation and brutal farm attacks, had a chance to air their concerns this week.
On Wednesday morning, 11 April, a provincial roadshow for farmers held by their representative organisation, Agri EC, stopped over in Graaff-Reinet.
The delegation from Agri SA included Dan Kriek (President of Agri South Africa), Dr Requier Wait (Eskom and other SOE matters), Annelize Crosby (Land), Ernest Pringle (Land), Jahni de Villiers (Labour), Kobus Visser (Rural safety) and Janse Rabie (Natural Resources).
During the event at Union High, this high-profile delegation from Agri South Africa provided those farmers in attendance with clarity on the latest developments affecting the agricultural sector, as well as listening to the issues raised by the area's farmers.
Agri EC president Doug Stern said it was - perhaps more than ever - critical to discuss "hot topics" with the district's farmers, to afford them the opportunity to raise their concerns.
"During this visit, we wanted to address concerns across the board, listen to what the farmers have to say and then address the issues raised with the relevant authorities," said Stern.
"We wanted to give them a platform from which to be heard, without fear of reprisal; a platform on which they can speak their minds freely," Stern said, adding that it was for this reason that certain sessions during the roadshow were closed to members of the public.
"Government generally is not very sympathetic towards agriculture," Stern said. "Therefore, it is of paramount importance to get the farmers' message across to our Agri SA representatives who negotiate with the government on our behalf. Farmers are South Africa's lifeblood, but a barrage of political threats hangs over their heads."
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