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F UT UR E F OC U S
THE POWER OF
POSITIVE DOING
JENNY MATHEWS
WE’VE HEARD ABOUT THE POWER OF POSITIVE
THINKING WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THE MIND IS
A POWERFUL INSTRUMENT WHICH CAN DRAIN
OR ENERGISE US. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT
PEOPLE WHO ACTIVELY WORK ON CHANGING
THEIR THOUGHT PROCESSES TO POSITIVE ONES
REPORT ALMOST IMMEDIATE IMPROVED ENERGY
LEVELS. BUT HOW MANY OF US REALISE THAT
THIS HAS TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION - THE
POWER OF POSITIVE DOING - TO BE EFFECTIVE IN
BRINGING ABOUT SUSTAINED CHANGE.
I
think our new Minister
of Agriculture is a brave,
positive man! Indeed the
presence of Minister Senzeni
Zokwane at the recent
Grain South Africa Annual
Congress at Nampo Park
made a significant impression
on the farmers gathered
there from all corners. The
prevailing mood of farmers
is currently conflicted and
sceptical in the light of the
fact that role players in the
agricultural sector are still
wrestling with numerous “hot
topics” raised by President
Jacob Zuma in the State of
the Nation Address (SONA).
His utterances indicated
government is going ahead
with policy formulation
which creates instability and
could have a detrimental
impact in spite of warning
from organised agriculture.
Among the issues which
give cause for concern were
announcements such as: 1)
a 12 000 ha land ceiling
will be introduced; 2) that
foreigners will not be able to
own land in South Africa and
3) a 50/50 farmworker equity
scheme is to be introduced.
The mind boggles in the face
of the practical implications
of these plans. Certainly I
have more questions than
answers chasing in my brain!
And this is why I believe the
Minister is a brave man –
He is fully aware of farmer
concerns and unhappiness
and yet he came to deliver a
heartfelt address in which he
said,” The grain industry is
hurting and I insisted to be
here at your Congress with
you to share in your pain.” I
later had the opportunity of
chatting to him in the Media
Centre. I commented that
we are not used to having
dignitaries such as him not
only attend the functions but
linger to interact, listen and
field questions. His smiling
response was, ‘I was at the
GSA Grainman of the Year
dinner, I am here all day to
listen to the farmers and I
will be here again in May to
walk amongst the farmers at
NAMPO!’
One farmer after the other
stepped up to express concern,
disillusionment or to issue
warnings of the consequences
in a sector which is not only
dealing with rapidly reducing
profitability levels, but is
also facing one of the most
catastrophic droughts in
recent history. These issues
are colour-blind and affect
every farmer and stakeholder
in this sector. They also will
impact national and household
food security sooner or later.
It would however be
wrong to leave you with
the impression that all is
negativity in the hearts and
minds of farmers! For despite
the concerns, a golden thread
of positivity weaved its way
through the meeting from
different perspectives.
Farmer and crop production
consultant from the US, Kip
Tom enthusiastically declared
that he was overwhelmed
by the passion he saw in
the audience. In his future