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5
April 2016
Our grain producers did not
just give up during the drought
o
ne issue that was conspicuous for me during this year’s
Grain SA Congress, was that our grain producers have
definitely not given up during the drought. They discuss
the future, and still dream about the future. This truly en-
couraged me.
The pain of the drought still has to be dealt with, but planning for the
next season must continue. Even after two days of sitting for hours
on end to evaluate mostly difficult scenarios, the new Executive sat
down, considered and dealt with the invidious issue of the repre-
sentation of our new era farmers in the various Grain SA structures.
Well done gentlemen…and lady! Welcome to the second female in
the Executive – Preline Swart. Moreover, she is the first woman on
Grain SA’s Executive Committee and we look forward to her contri-
bution in the time ahead.
It seems like the round tables and voting equipment made a signifi-
cant contribution to Congress. We experienced very good participa-
tion in the discussions and quite quickly conducted surveys to obtain
the opinions of all. It literally hummed.
The Executive Committee and the staff will analyse the results to
guide and lead us into the future. Although the scenarios sketched
by Mr Hamish McBain to the grain producers were somewhat more
negative than positive, they are the facts we have to face. Grain SA
will definitely have to focus to ensure that we can continue to pro-
duce sustainably and that South Africa may continue to enjoy the
privilege of food security.
One of the extremely encouraging observations this past month
was the first Alumni function of about 40 of our young leading grain
producers who have already attended the Grain Academy. Syngenta
organised the function for us and the guys could share their stories
of what have since happened in their lives and farming practices. It
was moving, to say the least.
The guys shared personal matters of how the knowledge gained by
them changed their lives and also the manner in which they deal with
their families and workers on the farm. More than ever before, I am
convinced that this investment can only benefit our grain leadership
in the future. I am looking forward to the participation of these peo-
ple in our Grain SA structures.
This year, I listened carefully to the State of the Nation (SONA) ad-
dress of our President to determine how he perceives the drought.
The disruptive events during this debate left one wondering whether
the leaders of our country still focused on the country and its peo-
ple and not only on their own political careers. I have, however, in
my more than 30 years in the grain industry never heard of a Grain
SONA. Well, that is what Wandile Sihlobo (economist: Grain SA) and
I experienced on 19 February.
We were invited to inform the Agricultural Portfolio Committee of
the status quo of the grain industry in South Africa for three hours,
uninterrupted. The parties that attended this session cooperated and
the questions following our presentation, encouraged me to believe
that our message was taken to heart.
So, we have to sow in the morning – and in the afternoon as well,
because we do not know which seed will deliver the crop. Maybe,
just maybe, the political drought during which we as grain producers
were not heard, has come to an end.
DS KOOS KIRSTEN
WOORD
Uit die
o
ns praat van en oor die weer as iets selfstandig. Ons
verwys ook na die weer as iets onsydig en onpersoonlik.
Ons sê: “Dit reën”, “Dit is warm” of “Die wind waai” en
nog baie ander dinge. As ons egter mooi in die Bybel
gaan lees, dan sien ons dat die Bybel nooit oor die weer
as iets selfstandig of onpersoonlik praat nie. Hy is in
beheer van die ganse skepping en in besonder die weer.
Eseg 32:7: “Ek sal die son met wolke oordek.”
Ps 135:7: “Hy wat die dampe laat opgaan van die einde van die aarde
af, bliksemstrale by die reën maak, die wind uit sy skatkamers laat
uitgaan.”
Lev 26:4: “...dan sal Ek julle reëns gee op hulle tyd.”
Ons kan baie dinge oor weerpatrone en siklusse en aardverwarming
sê, maar op die ou end moet ons besef dat die Here in beheer is
– ook van die weer. Hy stuur droogtes en reën, rampe en voorspoed,
slegte en goeie tye.
In Ps 65 lees ons dat Dawid drie keer sê dat die verste volke, diegene
wat die Here nie ken nie, hierdie dinge sien en vrees. Hulle het
ontsag vir hierdie God wat sulke dinge kan doen. Hulle besef dat
reën en droogte, storms en windstiltes, rampe en seën deur Iemand
groter as hulle gode beheer word. Hulle weet nie wie Hy is nie,
maar erken tog dat Hy bestaan.
Ons moet ook erken dat die Here hierdie dinge doen. Ons moet
daarby ook erken en glo dat Hy nog meer as net hierdie dinge
doen. Ons moet glo dat Hy sy Seun na hierdie wêreld gestuur het
om ons te verlos uit ons sonde en ellende. Ons moet glo dat Hy ons
deur Christus aangeneem het as sy kinders.
Ons moet glo dat hierdie God die weer op só ‘n wyse beheer dat
ons dit moet raaksien en Hom moet eer en dank. Ons moet glo dat
hierdie God en Vader van Jesus Christus, ons Vader is en ons kán
en wíl versorg met alles wat ons nodig het vir hierdie en die ewige
lewe. Hy wil ook hê dat ons Hom daarvoor moet loof en dank.
Baie geluk aan
W. Klokow van
Clocolan wat vir die
Januarie-uitgawe van
SA Graan/Grain
die gratis
Bybel gewen het.