By Maile Matsimela
In a significant move to revolutionise agriculture in Gauteng, MEC for Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) Vuyiswa Ramokgopa conducted a strategic site visit to Corteva Agriscience’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Rosslyn, Northwest of Pretoria, on 15 April.
This visit underscores the provincial government’s commitment to fostering crucial public-private partnerships aimed at elevating the agricultural sector in a province better known for its manufacturing and financial prowess.
Corteva Agriscience, the parent company of renowned seed producers Pannar and Pioneer Seeds, stands as a global agricultural powerhouse with a substantial footprint in South Africa.
The MEC was impressed that this Pretoria facility produces 50% of all maize grown in the country while simultaneously serving as an export hub for seeds across the African continent.
“What we’ve witnessed today is truly world-class technology and innovation,” remarked MEC Ramokgopa during the tour of Corteva’s high-tech facility. “This type of investment is precisely what we need to bolster agriculture in Gauteng and create sustainable opportunities for our smallholder farmers.”
“It’s a world-class facility; it’s very hi-tech. I’m not even an expert in this space, but you can see when the facility is being run well. It’s encouraging to see that this type of industry exists and this type of work is being done right here in our province, supplying not just the country but also exporting seeds all over the African continent and beyond,” said the MEC.
Ramokgopa said these are the stories “we want to hear, and we really want to support more companies that are invested in Gauteng, that are looking to grow in Gauteng and that are driving agriculture and agro-processing in the province”.
The partnership focuses on addressing critical challenges facing smallholder farmers through multiple avenues of support.
Abraham Vermeulen, Corteva Agriscience Commercial Unit Leader for Africa and the Middle East, says his company has demonstrated its commitment to transformation by implementing comprehensive programs, including internships, bursaries and supplier development initiatives to rectify historical injustices in the agricultural sector.
Vermeulen said that this private-public sector partnership is not entirely new, as they have already started working with the office of the MEC. Last year, Pannar Seeds partnered with the MEC office to train farmers and provide input.
Vermeulen said today’s meeting was to chart a way forward for doing more for the agri-parks, and that they’re looking forward to the next planting season with the MEC and her department.
He stressed the importance of transformation in the sector, saying any responsible corporation must also play its part in correcting past injustices.
“Our transformation agenda goes beyond compliance. We’re actively developing programmes that create sustainable and impactful changes in communities. For us, transformation is about impactful, sustainable changes. So, we provide internship programmes, bursaries and supplier development. These are but a few examples where we truly see the benefits that, if you do embrace transformation, it can be value-adding as well. Many of our interns today work at the site full time. So, it’s a privilege to be part of this transformation journey,” he said.
Also read:
‘Food is not a privilege, it’s a right’ – MEC Ramokgopa
Leaning on Pannar during the journey towards farming independence
Expert advice from Caiphus Muyambo, Pannar’s sales agent and farmer development manager
