South Africa’s new agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, says he is determined to improve things for farmers, farmworkers and agricultural exporters.
As set out by the Sunday newspaper City Press, Steenhuisen sees multiple areas where work is required, both in agriculture and in co-operating with other ministers to improve transport and water supply and to reduce corruption and rural crime.
Steenhuisen is leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance party, which is now one of the partners with the African National Congress in a government of national unity.
City Press said Steenhuisen had told parliament’s portfolio committee on agriculture that he would be very loud in the Cabinet to get things done.
“I will be going to other ministries, knocking on their doors to advance the interests of the economy and stakeholders such as the farmers and farmworkers.”
Steenhuisen said the agriculture department had to create a comprehensive and coherent policy environment to ensure that the sector kept up with technology and innovation from around the world.
“We’ve got to focus on biosecurity and increased [agriculture] production. We’ve got to find new markets for South African products. We’ve got to support our farmers – whether you are a small farmer or a large commercial operation, you need the department working on your side.”
There was “huge low-hanging fruit” for job creation in agriculture. About 32% of South Africans were unemployed and a large part of them were unskilled. Agriculture and agri-processing were the easiest ways to get people into work and create job opportunities for unskilled people.
He also pointed to the need to improve the biosecurity issues that hindered agricultural exports.
Steenhuisen noted how farmers and food producers were affected by issues outside the agriculture sector.
“If you look at the agriculture and agri-processing master plan adopted in 2022 with broad support from industry, the real bottlenecks lie in rail, roads, ports and harbours. Safety and security, the collapse of municipal infrastructure, with sewage going into water schemes, damages crop and really puts them at risk.”
Steenhuisen said his job was mostly going to be about forming relationships with the role players in the agriculture sector – from representatives of small, emerging black farmers to big corporations.
That plus everything else he’s listed. It’s going to be a busy time.
