NUUS
Agricultural Development
Agency (AGDA) launched
The Agricultural Development Agency (AGDA) officially launched on Tuesday, 18
February 2020, as part of the Africa Agri Tech conference which took place at the Sun
Arena at Times Square in Pretoria.
Kefiloe Manthata
Senwes Journalist
T
he launch of the Agricultural
Development Agency (AGDA) was
a monumental moment for the agri-
cultural community. Several key role play-
ers in the agricultural sector collaborated
to birth what could be a game-changer in
the way that government and the private
sector work together to elevate South
African agriculture to compete with the
rest of the world.
Champions of the initiative, including
Roelf Meyer, In Transformation leader,
Kallie Schoeman, producer and busi-
nessman, Rudi Dicks, head of the project
management office in the presidency,
Leona Archery, AGDA interim CEO, Nick
Serfontein, chairman of the Sernick Group
and Malcom Ferguson, associate in the In
Transformation initiative, delivered keynote
addresses at the launch.
“
“I think this has been a dream for many
of us. We expressed the desire to come
forward and support the idea of establi
shing something that could actually take
care of the need to bring more producers
into the agricultural space,” said Roelf
Meyer, one of the head runners of the
initiative, in his address to the audience
attending the launch. Meyer also reitera
ted that while this initiative will work hand-
in-hand with government, it remains a
private initiative.
Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza,
expressed great optimism and assured
AGDA full government support through
a pre-recorded video message that was
played to the audience at the launch. “This
initiative follows a call that was made by
the president in 2018 for the private sec-
tor to work together with government to
resolve agricultural and land reform issues
that our country faces today.”
She added that government appre-
ciates that this agency will join other orga
nised agriculture structures to mobilise
resources for the betterment of the sector.
The minister recognised the work that
Senwes and other companies do to assist
farmers in building their business, but also
acknowledged that the commencement
of the Agricultural Development Agency
would be pivotal in bringing about neces-
sary changes in the sector.
One of the main takeaways from the
launching of the agency is that it plans to
operate as a body that holds government
accountable for the implementation of the
many policies that exist in relation to agri-
cultural land reform and other pressing
matters.
Leona Archery will lead AGDA as
acting CEO. She emphasised that the
main driver for the success of the agency
will be partnerships. They plan to partner
with government, agri-businesses, pro-
ducers and the financial sector to estab-
lish a foundation that can catapult South
African agriculture to greater heights.
Initiative could be a game-changer for
South African agricultural community.
”
SENWES SCENARIO | HERFS • AUTUMN 2020
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