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Organised agriculture says the upcoming ANC elective conference in Mangaung requires exceptional leadership skills to address the country's problems.
Agri SA said on Wednesday that it wants to add its voice to that of big business leaders calling for drastic steps to deal with problems in education, with corruption and unemployment.
Agri SA president Johan Möller says "problems with the balance of payments, fiscal constraints, declining competitiveness of the economy, labour unrest and reduced foreign direct investment undoubtedly require sound domestic policies as a basic point of departure if the country is to be prevented from entering into a downward spiral."
According to Möller, policy decisions taken at Mangaung should be aimed at positively influencing the economic trajectory of the country whilst preoccupation with ideologies should certainly not be on the cards.
"Agri SA has been actively involved in providing inputs and commentary on the National Development Plan (NDP) and our organisation is committed to further participate in adding content to especially the matters pertaining to the agricultural sector like land reform and irrigation development. We trust that the ANC will find the NDP a suitable vehicle to take the country forward", he said.
According to Möller, Agri SA was approached to participate in the business programme of the ANC's Progressive Business Forum which will run concurrent to the conference.
