The World Association of Beet and Cane Growers (WABCG) is the international organisation which groups together the national and regional associations of sugar beet and sugar cane growers at international level.
WABCG has over 37-member associations, of which SA CANEGROWERS is one of them, and unites over 5 million sugar beet and sugar cane growers from the five continents. WABCG is present in 33 countries, producing 60% of world sugar production. SA CANEGROWERS to date is the only South African representative for the WABCG.
WABCG is a non-political organisation in close contact with other international organisations in the sugar sector and, in particular, the International Sugar Organization (ISO). It is fully financed and controlled by its member organisations.
The two main objectives of WABCG are the following:
- to contribute towards the economic, technical and social well-being of beet and cane growers, by organising an exchange of information and ideas on all problems encountered in the sector.
- to contribute towards strengthening the professional representation of beet and cane growers in national and international fora.
Agri SA promotes the development, profitability, stability and sustainability of primary agriculture in South Africa by means of its involvement and input on national and international policy and the implementation thereof. Through its affiliated membership, it represents a diverse grouping of individual farmers regardless of gender, colour or creed.
Agri SA’s policy advocacy includes work on trade negotiations, industrial policy, taxation, financing, land reform, labour laws, training, farmer development, environmental affairs, water rights and water pricing, other input-related issues, farm safety, law and order, infrastructure, technology development and transfer, statistical information and local government.
Furthermore, the organisation maintains an extensive communication network with its members and other affected communities, organisations and individuals.
Agri SA is a member of high-level business, trade and agricultural entities including Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) , the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) and the Cairns Group Farm Leaders.
Agri SA communicates with its members via its two-monthly magazine, namely Agri (incorporating Die Boer/The Farmer) an electronic newsletter as well as a policy bulletin.
SA CANEGROWERS is represented on the board as one of the non-executive directors.
Kwanalu’s strategic focus is to provide leadership on all key agricultural issues to commercial farmers (of all sizes) and related agricultural organisations in KZN. This will be achieved by developing top level skills in lobbying, facilitating and advising. Kwanalu will collect, collate and interpret all relevant information and further develop its capacity to ensure it has excellent communication with all its members.
SA CANEGROWERS chairlady, Dr Kathy Hurly, has been appointed as one of its Board of Directors.