The South African fruit sector is calling for feedback on its planned strategy to create a united, non-racist and prosperous industry.
A draft strategy has been released for consultation, with an official release of the plan anticipated for mid-March.
Project leader, Andre Jooste, of University of the Free State, said the draft was a strategic, tactical and actionable plan.
It charts a course for the industry to achieve the broad objectives of the state’s strategic plan for agriculture, as well as those of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. Both the state and the industry will commit resources to the scheme.
Jooste said the intention was to create a fruit industry plan based on mutually accepted actions and guidelines.
Fruit SA commissioned the project last March, and work was completed in December. A total of 38 workshops in all areas formed the backbone of the analysis, with 777 stakeholders taking part.
The strategy’s topics include empowerment and land reform, rural and human recourse development, relationships with the government, research and development, information and technology transfer and marketing and promotion of fruit.
Jooste said many major themes had been translated into suggested action plans, including the current issue of high costs and low prices which is squeezing farmers.
He said every workshop had been characterised by a positive attitude to empowerment, with clear indications the industry would like it to succeed.
However, he said there was concern over training and career development for historically disadvantaged individuals, with most discussions recognising there was no quick fix for years of neglect. Tough trading conditions would also make it difficult for emerging farmers to succeed.
Farmers also felt they did not have the time and resources to take responsibility for empowerment and that it was incorrect to place the onus for this on the producer.
A clear action plan that emerged was the need for a fruit industry charter, which had to be compiled in line with the broad AgriBEE charter.
Many in the industry expressed criticism and frustration with the lengthy process of land reform, as well as a degree of suspicion about the motives and approach of land claim commissioners in some areas.
But of even more concern was the principle of maintaining the productive capacity of commercial farming land through the claims process.
Participants noted that creative financing models were necessary for land reform and emerging farmers to succeed.
Relationships with the government were discussed in great detail. Participants felt some policies, such as wage legislation, legislation on farm housing and various taxes were retrograde and restrictive.
Players were unhappy with governmental implementation capacity, for instance when it came to policies and legislation, down to the institutional capacity of provincial departments.
Participants had negative experiences when it came to the government's approachability on farming. The fruit industry found it very difficult to communicate crucial issues, with officials and politicians making themselves unavailable.
It was noted that the state could do a lot more to fulfil its obligation as a partner to farmers. For one, it needed to play a bigger role in facilitating access to global markets and the policing of sanitary requirements.
The state could also increase its presence in international organisations where important decisions regarding, for example, standardisation, were taken.
Although good work had been done in research and development, the government needed to do more in building research capacity, including funding.
It was identified that "if industry wanted to distinguish itself from its competitors, it needed a strong base in research."
As far as rural development was concerned, farmers and their organisations had to get more involved in initiatives.
The general sentiment on information in the industry was that it came late, was unreliable, incomplete, inaccessible and inappropriate. Clearly work had to be done on standardisation so that "everyone could start talking the same language".
On the logistics front, concern was expressed at the deterioration of transport systems and difficulties at certain ports.
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