Page 3 - 14 Cotton SA March 2018

INHOUD VOORWOORD / PREFACE

CONTENTS et toe dit wil voorkom asof daar met die verkiesing van 'n nuwe president vir

Ndie land, nuwe optimisme onder die sakelui, landbou en die publiek in die
Voorwoord / Preface algemeen te bespeur was, word hierdie optimisme byna eenklaps vernietig met
die mosie van grondonteiening sonder vergoeding wat in die Parlement aanvaar
Pg 3
is. Dit is moeilik om hierdie verwikkelinge te probeer verwoord, veral teen die
Schweizer-Reneke agtergrond dat Suid-Afrika die enigste land op die kontinent met voedselsekerheid
Droëlandkatoen is, wat natuurlik die gevolg is van die Grondwet wat tot op hede eiendomsreg
gerespekteer en gewaarborg het.
Pg 4
Prestasie van die 2016/17 Hierbenewens is daar ook met groot belangstelling kennis geneem van die
Produksiejaar Katoenoes begrotingsrede en hoe daar moontlik met groter investering in die ekonomiese
Pg 5 sektor groei ontsluit kan word wat genoegsaam sal wees om die gebrek aan
werksgeleenthede aan bande te lê asook om transformasie te bevorder.
Cotton Market Report
Pg 6 Welliswaar het die bostaande gebeure tot gevolg gehad dat die Rand ietwat
teenoor die vernaamste geldeenhede versterk het wat natuurlik nie goeie nuus vir
Microfibre Pollution landbou-uitvoere is nie maar wel weer aan die anderkant die styging in boere se
Pg 8 insetkoste kan beperk.
Cotton News / Katoennuus
Die bou van veel groter vertroue tussen die regering en die sakesektor, wat
Pg 10 landbou insluit, is van kritieke belang om volhoubare ekonomiese groei te verseker
Small-holder Cotton wat tot 'n nuwe voorspoedsiklus kan lei wat Suid-Afrika weer 'n aantreklike
Production beleggingsbestemming vir die buiteland sal maak. Hier haal ek graag die woorde
van ou President Eisenhower van die VSA aan wat by geleentheid gesê het:
Pg 12 "The proper role of government, however, is that of partner with the farmer - never
Focus on Women in the his master. By every possible means we must develop and promote that
Cotton Industry partnership - to the end that agriculture may continue to be a
sound, enduring foundation for our economy and that farm
Pg 14 living may be a profitable and satisfying experience.”
Outlook on Textiles &
Clothing 'n Mens kan maar net vertrou dat wysheid op die einde
van die dag sal seëvier en dat landbou as die wenner uit
Pg 16 die stryd sal tree!
Cotton as a Beauty Care
Ingredient ust when it seems that with the election of a new
Jpresident for the country, new optimism among
Pg 17
business, agriculture and the public in general was
Cotton 2040 - Sustainable detected, this optimism was almost suddenly destroyed by
Cotton the vote in favour of land expropriation without compensation
Pg 17 in Parliament. It is difficult to try and articulate these
developments, especially against the background that South Africa is the only
Stand van Damme en country on the continent that has food security, which is obviously the result of the
Klimaatsvooruitsigte Constitution that up to now respected and guaranteed land ownership.
Pg 18
In addition, the budget speech was also noted with great interest especially how
increased investment in the economic sector can unlock growth, sufficient to
address the lack of employment opportunities and to promote transformation.

Admittedly, the above events resulted in the somewhat strengthening of the Rand
against major currencies, obviously not good news for agricultural exports but
which on the other hand may limit the rise in farmers' input costs.

The building of greater trust between the government and the business sector,
which includes agriculture, is critical to ensure sustainable economic growth that
could lead to a new prosperity cycle which will make South Africa an attractive
investment destination again for overseas investors. In this respect allow me to
quote the words of former President Eisenhower of the United States who once
said: "The proper role of government, however, is that of partner with the farmer
- never his master. By every possible means we must develop and promote that
partnership - to the end that agriculture may continue to be a sound, enduring
foundation for our economy and that farm living may be a profitable and satisfying
experience."
One can only hope that wisdom will prevail at the end of the day with agriculture
emerging as the victor!

3