Athol Currie is the new chair of SAAGA and Sizwe Magagula, vice-chair of the association.
Back in the early 1990’s Currie was given the opportunity to manage an avocado operation in the Kwa Zulu Natal midlands. He said that it was the willingness of experienced avocado farmers to share their knowledge, as well as the openness of key industry players, which struck him most.
"My current position with The Fruit Farm Group South Africa has given me the opportunity to travel and spend time within the various South African avocado growing regions; I have been blessed to be a part of the South African Avocado industry, and as Chairman of SAAGA I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead"With avocados becoming more of a mainstream product and the resulting universal growth in consumption, current growers are looking towards expansion, as well as maximising production and farmers from other sectors are seeing avocado production as a viable option to replace or add to their current operations.
"As a Board we will need to be prepared for this growth and remain focused on our existing members’ needs, whilst at the same time cater for a new generation of avocado producers. The Board is under no illusion that we face a range of challenges, but are all in agreement that these challenges provide SAAGA with an opportunity to reflect and focus on issues that affect our association going into the future, thus enabling us to provide our members with an outstanding avocado focused service."
Vice Chairman, Sizwe Magagula, said he would like to see the association developing stronger relations with government – opening up opportunities to grow the industry, bringing new players to the industry and positioning South Africa to take on other origins in the world in terms of volume and quality, but most importantly, to ensure that when some of the alternate markets like the USA, China and Japan open up, that the country is ready to supply, thus improving employment opportunities.
"This I believe will be achieved by improved research, a transformed industry, maintaining the unique unity of grower members and a strong partnership with various departments to facilitate market access and land reform to get unproductive avocado areas back into production."Continuous development of the local market will provide the industry with a sustainable outlet and could be a hedge against changes in global market conditions e.g. import bans driven by politics or fruit diseases."
He said the industry can expect a much clearer industry strategy, a drive for execution and a results-driven association with a clear return on investment. Engagement and open communication with key stakeholders will be key to achieve these objectives.
For more information:
Athol Currie
Phone: +27 33 212 1264
Email: athol@tffgsa.co.za
Sizwe Magagula
Phone: +27 15 309 0129
Email: sizwem@westfaliafruit.co.za