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Bloemfontein - South Africa needs a strong National African Farmers Union that will do things differently and smartly, Minister for Agriculture Tina Joemat-Pettersson said on Wednesday night.
"We need a strong NAFU in each province in this country," she told hundreds of emerging farmers gathered at the National African Farmers' Convention.
Some 1 500 emerging farmers from across the country were expected at the two-day convention that will decide on the future of the National African Farmers Union of South Africa (NAFU-SA) at the University of the Free State.
Joemat-Pettersson urged for unity amongst the delegates and said they could not "ignore" leaders.
She also told the delegates there would not be a new structure "parallel" with Nafu and that the organisation should "put their fights behind them".
"There is only one Nafu, which must bring together all subsistence and small holder farmers in the country." Joemat-Pettersson said.
While NAFU fought over leadership and other issues, similar organisations were going forward and leaving them behind.
"The time for planning is over, the time for complaining is over and we have a good idea what the problems are, we need solutions and answers."
The minister said her department was ready to work together with the small and emergent farmers while they also had the goodwill of white farmers who wanted to help.
Joemat-Pettersson said government was focusing on access to finance, markets and skills in regard to emerging farmers to help with job creation and access to the agro-processing industry.
The national facilitator of the Nafu-SA revitalisation project, Aggrey Mahanjana, said the main problems faced by Nafu before the convention related to leadership and finances.
The convention followed "diagnostic and revitalisation" consultative meetings in all 52 district municipal areas in South Africa with emerging farmers over the past eight months.
Emerging farmers at the meetings decided there was an urgent need to transform Nafu-SA into an effective lobbying and advocacy group.
A new constitution, structure and a five-point strategic plan, to turn around Nafu-SA, were also discussed.
The convention ends on Friday.
"We need a strong NAFU in each province in this country," she told hundreds of emerging farmers gathered at the National African Farmers' Convention.
Some 1 500 emerging farmers from across the country were expected at the two-day convention that will decide on the future of the National African Farmers Union of South Africa (NAFU-SA) at the University of the Free State.
Joemat-Pettersson urged for unity amongst the delegates and said they could not "ignore" leaders.
She also told the delegates there would not be a new structure "parallel" with Nafu and that the organisation should "put their fights behind them".
"There is only one Nafu, which must bring together all subsistence and small holder farmers in the country." Joemat-Pettersson said.
While NAFU fought over leadership and other issues, similar organisations were going forward and leaving them behind.
"The time for planning is over, the time for complaining is over and we have a good idea what the problems are, we need solutions and answers."
The minister said her department was ready to work together with the small and emergent farmers while they also had the goodwill of white farmers who wanted to help.
Joemat-Pettersson said government was focusing on access to finance, markets and skills in regard to emerging farmers to help with job creation and access to the agro-processing industry.
The national facilitator of the Nafu-SA revitalisation project, Aggrey Mahanjana, said the main problems faced by Nafu before the convention related to leadership and finances.
The convention followed "diagnostic and revitalisation" consultative meetings in all 52 district municipal areas in South Africa with emerging farmers over the past eight months.
Emerging farmers at the meetings decided there was an urgent need to transform Nafu-SA into an effective lobbying and advocacy group.
A new constitution, structure and a five-point strategic plan, to turn around Nafu-SA, were also discussed.
The convention ends on Friday.
