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F UT UR E F OC U S
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to speak with a united voice to
ask the government questions
such as “What has happened with
the funds promised as drought
aid?” and “When do they plan on
maintaining infrastructure such as
road surfaces which are critical to
farming success and which we pay
our taxes for?” It is time to hold
government accountable. These
issues are not about the colour of
our skin, they are about the heart
of the matter: Farmers do want
the agricultural landscape to trans-
form, peacefully, and to farm in
an environment that is conducive
to success for all.
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BFAP’s message to government
seems simple: “Provide enabling
conditions (a better functioning
state without red tape and inef-
fective processes), implement a
range of models for land transfer
to beneficiaries, ensure effective
support to beneficiaries and
eliminate political patronage for
the land reform and agricultural
programmes. Then we will see a
thriving and growing agricultural
sector, which should provide fer-
tile ground for new farmers to put
down roots.”
This vision should give farmers
cause to hope! “To everything
there is a season, and a time to
every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to
die; a time to plant, and a time to
pluck up that which is planted; a
time to kill, and a time to heal; a
time to break down, and a time
to build up” (Ecclesiastes 3). It is
now time to pray … and it is time
to speak up. So give your support
to those organisations that are
your voice!