President’s Message
Great start to irrigation season
Durban’s best-ever Congress!
E
veryone who attended our SABI National Congress
2019 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal recently will agree that
it was a fantastic event. After every Congress, attendees
often announce it was “their best Congress ever” – and this
Congress was no exception!
Congress just gets better and
excellent speakers. You can delve
better, which shows we are keeping
into the presentations on the SABI
up with the times and delivering an
website or follow the range of
event of great relevance.
articles over the next few months
in SABI magazine, highlighting the
Again, many thanks to Riana
excellent speakers’ presentations.
and her team, for a sterling job
done to make this congress
a great success. We will have
Delightful times
great memories of Durban 2019
Presently there is much exciting
for many years.
technical
and
technological
Water efficiency and productivity
progress being seen in irrigation
in agricultural and landscape irri-
and agriculture, and this too was
gation are missions of SABI, and
well conveyed in presentations
our missions are extremely relevant
delivered and the excellent exhi-
bitions on show. Our exhibitors
in the world today, seeking both to
really were brilliant at Congress,
wisely utilise and be better stewards
showcasing fantastic products and
of all resources on our planet while
services which delegates enjoyed
ensuring agriculture meets the
viewing immensely.
challenges of feeding a growing
world with nutritious and ample
We were privileged at Congress
foods. Our theme of “Climate
to be addressed renowned sugar
of Change and Opportunity” at
cane farmer, Charl Senekal, who
Congress was brilliantly reflected
is one of South Africa’s best-known
and explored by our range of
commercial farmers. Indeed, Charl
is well-known on our continent too.
Charl spoke at our gala dinner,
and emphasised the importance
of our industry recognising the
wealth of importance of partner-
ships and opportunities on our
continent. Charl said he looks
forward to the time when he sees
SABI branding in Africa too.
It was a delightful moment at
our gala dinner when a group of
us SABI Presidents – (present and
past) – got together for a photo.
See the eight of us below – see
who you can recognise. It is not all
the SABI presidents of course from
all the years of SABI history, but
a good showing.
Willie Vosloo – Preside
nt
I hope all our readers have
kicked off to a good irrigation
season 2019. We have all been
extremely busy with the season
starting and an incredible range
of farmers days happening around
the country. All very enjoyable
and informative!
Enjoy the season and
wishing all the very best to our
team the Bokke at the World
Cup 2019 in Japan!
Past Presidents at the congress