A call for insurance companies to join hands and help farmers – Premier Mahumapelo
The extent to which farmers are able to get their businesses insured for unforeseen circumstances such as drought came under the spotlight during the drought mitigation dialogue which was held recently at the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture.
Addressing farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural industry who attended this first of its kind initiative in the province, Premier Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo challenged insurance companies to ponder being with farmers in good and bad times.
“As we have placed agriculture at the apex of driving the province’s economic growth, we need to robustly engage each other as partners in this environment, on why it is not possible to get farmers’ businesses insured”, said Premier Mahumapelo who maintained that government is ready to engage all partners, including the private sector, to discuss possible and sustainable ways of mitigating risks associated with drought.
Organised by the provincial Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development, the dialogue was aimed at creating a platform for stakeholders to come up with innovative approaches to dealing with drought challenges.
The session which was attended by the Deputy Minister for Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries General Bheki Cele, noted the preliminary assessment report which indicates that Bokone Bophirima Province is currently experiencing drought, this as the province experienced very erratic but reasonable rainfalls only until December 2014.
“Rainfall patterns have drastically reduced, grazing status continues to deteriorate, and as a maize province, it is expected that the crop yield will diminish”, stated Dr Poncho Mokaila, Head of Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development.
Applauding the province for initiating this dialogue, Deputy Minister Bheki Cele said this will help in coming up with province specific solutions and intervention strategies to dealing with drought, on a short, medium to long term basis.
Deputy Minister Cele further called on the province and the sector to assist young black African people with interest in agriculture, saying “Let us all please find a way of not letting these young people down”, urged the Deputy Minister.
The MEC for Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development, Ms Manketsi Tlhape, assured delegates of government’s stance to walk the path with farmers, saying that relief will be sought once the province is declared a state of disaster.
“This session has helped us to understand the expectation from the sector, and the deliberations here will certainly assist us to be better prepared for the next season”, said MEC Tlhape who also urged farmers to participate in the drought assessment exercise which the department has initiated, by collecting assessment forms from various departmental offices.
Stakeholders who participated in this one-day dialogue included organised agriculture such as Omnia, National Emerging Red meat Producers Organisation, Grain SA, National African Farmers Union, Agricultural Research Council, NoordWes Korporasie, Agri NW, Transvaal Agricultural Union, the financial institutions, the North West University and Dikgosi.
Enquiries:
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 388 4390
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
