Newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp says South Africa’s farming sector should move beyond racial labels and focus instead on helping all farmers succeed, regardless of their background.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
Speaking exclusively to African Farming editor-in-chief Chris Burgess in Parliament, Aucamp reflected on his first weeks in office. He described organised agriculture as one of the country’s greatest strengths and pledged to work closely with farming organisations across the sector.
Having previously served on Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Aucamp said he had already built relationships with organisations such as the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (AFASA) and was encouraged by the level of cooperation between different agricultural bodies.
“We are privileged to have organised agriculture across all sectors of the farming industry,” he said. “The cooperation between organisations like AFASA, Agri SA, TLU SA and SAAI gives me confidence that I am not sitting in this chair alone.”
He said these organisations not only support government but also work constructively with one another to address the challenges facing farmers.
Focus on farmers, not race
Addressing the often-discussed divide between commercial and emerging agriculture, Aucamp argued race should no longer be the lens through which South African farming is viewed.
“There are white upcoming farmers, black upcoming farmers, and commercial farmers from every race,” he said. “The important question is not race, but what we can do to help an upcoming farmer become a successful commercial farmer.”
He acknowledged farmers in different parts of the country face unique challenges, whether they are communal livestock farmers in the Eastern Cape or large-scale grain producers in the Free State. However, he believes they all share the same goal of building sustainable farming businesses.
Aucamp said government’s role is to understand those differing realities while ensuring every farmer has access to opportunities for growth.
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Stronger role for organised agriculture
The minister encouraged farmers to become active members of organised agriculture, describing farming organisations as an essential bridge between producers and government.
He noted that most farmers do not have the time or resources to engage directly with Parliament or legislative processes, making representative bodies vital in ensuring their voices are heard. “Organisations such as AFASA represent farmers in policy discussions and help create better cooperation between government and the agricultural sector,” he said.
He added that engaging with agricultural economists and industry leaders would also help him better understand the practical challenges farmers experience across different regions.
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Commercial and communal farmers can grow together
During the interview, Burgess highlighted the wool industry’s previous success in improving communal flocks by providing better genetics through partnerships between commercial farmers, communal farmers and government.
Aucamp welcomed similar collaborative initiatives, saying practical cooperation already exists in many farming communities.
He pointed to recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks as an example, where neighbouring farmers supported one another by sharing facilities and working together to manage disease control.
“When you’re on the ground, you see that farmers work together regardless of their background,” he said. “This is a farming issue, not a race issue.”
Drawing on examples from North West, Aucamp said he had seen commercial farmers assist communal producers by improving livestock genetics while also recognising the importance of preserving valuable indigenous breeds such as Nguni cattle.
He said government is ready to support programmes that strengthen partnerships between commercial and small-scale farmers.
“If there are programmes where small-scale farmers and commercial farmers can work together and government can play a role, I am fully willing to support them,” he said.
Taking government to the farm gate
Aucamp concluded by reaffirming his commitment to visit farming communities across South Africa and build relationships directly with producers.
“I hope to get out to as many farming areas as possible and meet farmers in the field,” he said.
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