Nation in Conversation got the ball rolling on day one of Nampo Cape with a lively discussion about “How we create new energy in Agriculture”, hosted by seasoned anchor Theo Voster.
The panellists on the discussion were: Senwes Group CEO and current Agbis Chairperson Francois Strydom; Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers; Alan Winde, Minister Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape government, Chris Burgess, Editor of Landbouweekblad and André Uys, CEO of Acorn Agri & Food Group and Overberg Agri.
The consensus of the panel was that the tide has definitely changed “in the last two months,” according to Jannie. “Government and farmers are talking face to face and listening to each other.”
Francois echoed Jannie’s sentiments saying that “about 200 leading farmers met with government last week and it was the first time for most of the parties, that they had ever met each other. These discussions are having an impact on the flow of the discourse, for example the government’s initial idea to change article 25 will be influenced by the knowledge of the implications shared by the farmers.”
Chris made a plea to the mainstream media to get on board to share the good news stories as was shared at the Bela Bela summit.
Watch the full discussion at
www.nasieingesprek.co.za and follow the programme for the content of the other discussions to be held on September 13 and 14 also live from Nampo Cape.