South Africa’s agricultural industries play an important role in the country’s economy, employing thousands of workers and contributing billions of dollars to the GDP every year.
Given this, it makes sense that there are many organizations whose sole purpose is to support the agricultural industry and improve its sustainability and overall prosperity.
The following seven agricultural associations in South Africa contribute greatly to the success of the country’s farming community through education, research and development, promotion of goods and services, lobbying local governments on behalf of farmers, and more.
The List of Agricultural Associations in South Africa
- Stellenbosch Farmers Association
- KZN Agricultural Association
- Sol Plaatje Agricultural Union
- North West Agricultural Society
- Transvaal Agricultural Union
- Union Agrícola de Cataluña
- Western Cape Landbou Weekblad
Let’s look at these agricultural associations in South Africa in detail.
1) Stellenbosch Farmers Association
Stellenbosch Farmers Association (SFA) is one of the agricultural associations in South Africa that represents farmers from Stellenbosch and surrounding areas. It was founded in 1892 and has become one of the oldest agricultural organizations in the region.
2) KZN Agricultural Association
The KZN Agricultural Association is a non-profit organization that exists to empower and promote the agricultural sector. The association is one of the agricultural associations in South Africa that offers a platform for people from the agricultural industry to meet and share knowledge, discuss issues of relevance, and advocate on behalf of the industry.
They work with existing organizations as well as new ones with the goal of building networks and strengthening relationships.
3) Sol Plaatje Agricultural Union
Sol Plaatje Agricultural Union is the oldest agricultural union in the country. The organization was founded by Sol Plaatje and some of his colleagues from Kimberley, Northern Cape Province.
In 1922, they began publishing a newsletter called the African Agricultural Union News. In 1923, the name of the newsletter was changed to The African Agricultural Union Gazette. The following year, they published their first book called Native Agriculture in South Africa which dealt with traditional African knowledge of farming.
4) North West Agricultural Society
North West Agricultural Society is a non-profit organization established by the provincial government of the North West Province. It was founded with the goal of promoting and developing agricultural practices for greater food security in the region.
The society helps smallholder farmers to increase productivity, as well as providing them with training in agriculture and farm management. They also offer consulting services in order to help these farmers receive certification from government agencies like SANBI, LEISA, CGC, etc.
The society has an extensive network of affiliated members that spans all provinces in South Africa. Their membership base consists mainly of agricultural organizations, farming associations, individual members, and private companies involved in agriculture production or the processing industry
5) Transvaal Agricultural Union
The Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU) is one of the agricultural associations in South Africa based in the Transvaal, Gauteng, and North West provinces of South Africa. The TAU was established by the 1899 Transvaal Agricultural Union Act, which has been amended several times since its enactment.
The TAU’s main objective is to create a climate conducive to agriculture, as well as promote and market agricultural produce.
6) Union Agrícola de Cataluña
Union Agrícola de Cataluña is a farmers’ union from Cataluña, Spain. Union Agrícola de Cataluña was founded on February 7, 1928. This is one of the agricultural associations in South Africa whose goal is to promote agricultural activities and the use of natural resources.
7) Western Cape Landbou Weekblad
If you have a deep interest in agricultural news, then Western Cape Landbou Weekblad is the organization for you. It’s a weekly journal that covers everything from farming and crop production to livestock and animal husbandry. The organization also has an online presence with its own website,
Facebook page, and Twitter account. So if you’re looking for a way to stay up-to-date on agriculture news, this is your best bet. Having looked at the agricultural associations in South Africa, let us answer some questions.
What is the biggest agricultural company in South Africa?
The biggest agricultural company in South Africa is the State-owned Land and Agricultural Development Corporation (LADC). LADC was formed in 1990 as a statutory body of the South African government. The company’s primary objective is to promote economic development in the agricultural sector.
Who is the CEO of Agri SA?
The CEO of Agri SA is Jannie de Villiers. Jannie has been the CEO since 2008 and is also the executive director of the organization. The new president of the organization, Dr. Tsholofelo Molebatsi was elected in 2016, after a ballot that took place during their Annual General Meeting.
Agri SA aims to promote agricultural development and food security by facilitating agricultural education, research, international trade, industry representation, and regional cooperation.
This does not only include agriculturalists but anyone who contributes or benefits from farming or livestock production such as contractors, merchants, and bankers.
Who is the richest farmer in South Africa?
The richest farmer in South Africa is the Oppenheimer family. The family has been farming in South Africa since 1690 when they settled in the Cape of Good Hope.
They were originally German Jews who fled persecution and settled in South Africa. Under the protection of King George III, members of the family began trading on behalf of England in 1789.
The wealth that was generated from these endeavors made them one of the wealthiest families in South Africa today.
What is the biggest agricultural company?
Founded in 1922, Sasol is a global energy and chemical company headquartered in Johannesburg. It has operations around the world.
The company produces and markets liquid fuels, gas, and chemicals, as well as technologies and services for the downstream oil and gas sector. In addition to being South Africa’s largest company by market capitalization (as of December 2016), Sasol is also one of the leading producers of synthetic fuels from coal.
What is Grain SA?
Grain SA is a not-for-profit organization that serves as a member-driven, cooperative venture for the industry. The mission of Grain SA is to ensure sustainable and profitable growth of the grain value chain by supporting and protecting the interests of all stakeholders.
How do farmers get funding in South Africa?
The most common way for farmers to get funding is through grants. There are several different types of grants available.
The first type, called a project grant, covers all or part of the costs associated with a specific project. Operational grants cover the cost of day-to-day operations and can be used for expenses such as fertilizer and water delivery services. These types of grants must typically be repaid within a set time frame.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are some of the organizations that you should know about if you’re involved with agriculture in any way. They each have their own goals and missions that they aim to accomplish. And by reading this blog post, you should be more informed on what they do and how they can help your farm become a success! Do you have suggestions on the agricultural associations in South Africa on our list, please comment below.