Good morning!
Sanibonani!
Assa laamu alaykum!
Goeie More!
President of Agri-SA, Johannes Moller
Acting chair of WFO, Ron Bonnet
Members of the Transitional Board of the World Farmers Organisation
Leadership of the various farmers’ organisations
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Honourable Lulu Johnson
Member of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Honourable Laurie Bosman
Members of the diplomatic corps
Delegates
Ladies and gentlemen
It is an honour to welcome the World Farmers’ Organisation, and a particular honour for South Africa that the WFO has chosen to have its first General Assembly Meeting in our country.
Although very new, the WFO has made its presence felt. The South African government regards it as a new and esteemed friend. We share a number of values and concerns.
The establishment of a united international farmer’s organisation is to be welcomed; world-wide unity across this critical sector must contribute to greater food security in a very uncertain environment of climate change and social transformation.
But in building the World Farmers Organisation we must not over-ride or silence the diverse voices that may represent smaller countries or particular sectoral interests. These minority voices are often critical in taking us forward as a society, and we must not allow a dominant majority to relegate these important views to the sidelines.
First, the WFO has drawn attention to the trend of increasing volatility of food prices. The G20 is also deeply concerned about this trend. The reason for the increasing volatility remains somewhat mysterious, but the main culprit appears to be commodity speculation. I attended the G20 meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture in Paris in June this year discussing food price volatility. The conference was attended by President Sarkozy of France. That’s indicative of how seriously the matter of food price volatility is viewed by the G20 countries.
Food has become like a currency or precious metal whose price fluctuates at the whim of faceless traders. But even when prices are high, our farmers are not the main beneficiaries. Whereas international trade should serve the function of balancing supply and demand, it is becoming a source of uncertainty and instability. Use of food crops for biofuels, and use of grains to produce wheat and milk are adding pressure to prices.
A second area of common concern is climate change. Climate change is a scourge to our farming communities, but one whose full significance we cannot yet appreciate.
We share with the WFO a sense of urgency to help farmers become more resilient in the face of climate change, as well as to make farming friendlier to the environment, and indeed to contribute to retarding if not redressing climate change.
The WFO’s stated policy position on climate change is thoughtful and thorough. From tomorrow until Wednesday we are hosting the African Ministerial Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture in Johannesburg.
We take the matter of climate change very seriously hence we are convening the Ministers of Agriculture from the African continent to formulate a common position to present to COP 17 which South Africa is hosting towards the end of the year in Durban. Collectively, as the Ministers of Agriculture in Africa, we would like to see the COP 17 text having something on Agriculture – even if it’s just a sentence.
We appreciate your position papers on biotechnology in relation to animal production and the ethical treatment of animals. You have our support and admiration on that.
In South Africa, we are seeking ways of promoting conservation agriculture, agro-ecological agriculture, and organic farming, and are pleased to announce that these practices have already taken root here and are beginning to flourish. But you are pushing us to do more and we acknowledge this with thanks.
As the WFO has noted, agriculture is also a key partner in promoting the “green economy”. South Africa is only recently grasping the importance of greening its economy, and looks to the WFO for moral support and ideas in terms of how agriculture can contribute.
Our green revolution is linked to smallholder farmers, and includes women farmers.
The third issue I would like to raise relates to the value of dialogue, both between farmers on the one hand, and government and multilateral organisations on the other, and between different farming communities.
We need assistance of farmers in directing increased funding for research and development – from public funds and the private sector.
The WFO represents an attempt by farmers to make their voices heard more clearly and loudly. This is a critical development in a world where a shrinking number of multinationals control an ever larger share of the agro-food distribution network. We see this as a positive development also in the sense that our combined voices will be better heard, especially in concluding the DOHA round of WTO negotiations.
Finally, I would like to conclude by extending a warm welcome to the World Farmers’ Organisation, express my best wishes for these proceedings, and wish the Organisation a long and fruitful existence.
I thank you.
