Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen instructed the media at Nampo 2025 that he was focusing his consideration on the farmers that stayed in South Africa, and never those who have determined to go away for the US underneath President Donald Trump’s refugee programme.
Photograph: Yolanda Lemmer
With the 49 Afrikaners leaving for the US underneath a brand new refugee programme initiated by President Donald Trump a scorching matter presently, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen made it clear that he wouldn’t be “losing vitality on them”, however would somewhat be focussing on farmers in South Africa. Steenhuisen was talking to the media on the final day of the annual Nampo Harvest Day.
“I feel they [the Afrikaners] made a mistake. Keep in mind that the grass is just not all the time greener on the opposite aspect. We now have a brand new authorities, new vitality. My focus is, nevertheless, not on these farmers who’ve chosen to go away however on those that determined to remain right here.”
Steenhuisen, a daily attendee at Nampo, stated he engaged with quite a few farmers throughout this 12 months’s occasion and haven’t met one who stated he needed to go away South Africa.
Nampo has attracted a number of high-profile political guests over the previous few days, together with Deputy President Paul Mashitile.
Steenhuisen stated the visits “weren’t politically motivated,” however to spotlight the deep appreciation authorities has for farmers and the position agriculture might play in combating unemployment.
He stated the agriculture and manufacturing sectors might play a significant position in combating unemployment.
“We now have many unskilled labourers, and agriculture can assist in coaching them to fulfil the trade’s wants,” he added.
Put up-AGOA
Steenhuisen additionally emphasied the need for presidency to pursue bilateral commerce agreements with the US on agricultural items.
“This may guarantee continued entry to the US market, or at the very least on a good foundation that permits us to compete with different producers within the World South,” he stated.
He additionally highlighted the significance of getting a backup plan ought to the African Development and Alternative Act (AGOA) be off the desk.
“The answer is to diversify and discover new markets,” he defined. “That’s not a fast answer however somewhat a medium-term one that may take a couple of years to barter.”
Steenhuisen famous that South Africa has already managed to barter offers with international locations like Thailand and the Philippines.
“This at the very least gives a cushion towards potential commerce disruptions,” he stated.
