A SUCCESSFUL AEASA GP CHAPTER POLICY DIALOGUE EVENT
AEASA Gauteng Chapter, together with the NAMC and other stakeholders, held an event on the 3rd of July 2024, to discuss strategies for protecting and promoting South Africa’s agriculture amidst geopolitical changes. The discussions included the effects of geopolitical tensions on agriculture, the significance of agricultural research and development, and the evolving role of agricultural economists. The National Agricultural Marketing Council’s advisory role to the minister and relevant stakeholders in marketing agricultural products was also highlighted.
The panel explored the geopolitical implications for agriculture, the difficulties in implementing agricultural policies and regulations, and South Africa’s position within African agriculture. The meeting emphasized the need for practicality and focused on sound policies to drive agricultural development and identified market opportunities in the sector. Challenges in executing agricultural policies in South Africa, such as the gap between policy creation and implementation, were discussed.
South Africa’s participation in various agricultural initiatives on the African continent and globally, like the CAADP Biannual Review and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), were noted, along with the country’s resilience and adaptation to climate variability and the intricate relationship between climate change and agriculture.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of supporting the new political leadership in agriculture and stressed the importance of maintaining the technical expertise and skills to accelerate the implementation of existing policies and plans like the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan.
The meeting concluded by stressing the importance of ongoing policy dialogue and student involvement in the association’s provincial chapters. The willingness to collaborate with elected leaders and government technocrats was expressed, and the session ended with gratitude extended to sponsors and participants.
Thank you for joining the conversation
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