Senwes Scenario April / May 2016 | Page 5

T HIS A N D T HAT ••• Pieter & Tshepo Johan Minnaar Producer in the Kroonstad area “ ’A farmer is a strange thing: he always believes that next year will be the best year ever.” Andy Crocker Managing Director, Meadow Feeds “South Africa will have to import a record quantity of white and yellow maize this year, an estimated 3,5 million tons. We may have had sufficient grain before, but we don't any longer.” And don't miss Nation in Conversation, Grainlink and Hinterland. Heard all over... Louw Steytler Outgoing Chairman of Grain SA “Land in itself is the cornerstone of food security. I’ve seen the most unbelievable things in farming across colour lines.” Oneworld.nl webtuiste “De droogte die in 1998 begon in de Levant, het oostelijke Middellandse Zeegebied waar Cyprus, Israël, Jordanië, Libanon, de Palestijnse gebieden, Syrië en Turkije liggen, is waarschijnlijk de hevigste van de afgelopen negen eeuwen. Dat stellen NASA-wetenschappers op basis van nieuw onderzoek.” Dan Kriek Chairman of Free State Agriculture and ViceChairman of Agri SA “With the assistance of govern­ ment our farmers will be able to produce a maize surplus next year. However, if we still do not understand that government will have to assist us, everybody will understand it after this year. The South African farmer has always subsidised the consumer. This year we will learn what it means if it can no longer be done.” Dirk Steenkamp Producer in the Vredefort district “Africa will mess with you if you are not firm.” Isak Smit, Scientist at South African National Parks Service “We’ve got sympathy with agriculture and local communities.The wellbeing and livelihoods of a lot of human beings are severely affected by this drought. However, in these natural systems, like national parks, we realise that droughts are actually natural and important events that have been happening over millennia.” Louis de Kock Mega-farmer from Barkley-West Land reform can “crush and destroy” the country if it is not handled correctly. Have you contributed to the drought disaster fund? THE AGRI SA DROUGHT DISASTER FUND NEEDS YOUR HELP. HOW TO MAKE YOUR DONATION: Donations can be made via the webpage www.droogterampfonds.co.za with various payment options like EFT, Credit cards, Check and Debit cards, SnapScan or by SMS at R30 per SMS. WHY MUST I CONTRIBUTE? Senwes appeals to all concerned South Africans to stand by our producers because they play a critical role in the food security of this country and the economy of the countryside. SENWES Scenario • Apr/May 2016 3