A WORD FROM… Jane McPherson

January 2020

It’s the new year! This can be very exciting to you, or you may feel tired at the prospect of facing all the challenges of a new year. Either way, we move forward into the new period of life that has been given to us as a gift – the greatest gift of all, life itself.

These days, many of us are totally overwhelmed by all the information, news, warnings, and reports and we are not sure what to do with all of it. About climate change and global warming. Some experts say it is for real, while others say this is not true. I certainly don’t know whether or not it is true. The fact is, however, that we have experienced droughts and heat as never before. Do we need to be despondent? I don’t believe so. We can only do what we can do – limit the water you use, limit the refuse you produce, farm wisely, live carefully – and be a good caretaker of the earth. Each one of us can only do a little, but all those little bits make a huge difference if there are enough of us doing the little, we can.

Our country has been ravaged by theft and corruption and many feel hopeless about the situation. Again, each one of us has a responsibility to be a good and upstanding South African citizen. If each one of us is law abiding, creative and productive, we can build our country again. We need to take responsibility for our own lives and our own futures – we can do it, little by little!

As a farmer, you are making a huge contribution to the lives of many people – South Africans have food because of you. Whatever you produce is helping to make our country a good place to live in.

Let us embrace 2020 and make this a good year. Please read below:

IRISH BLESSING

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Publication: January 2020

Section: Pula/Imvula