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SABI NewsJet March 2011 |
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IN THIS ISSUE |
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March sees the celebration of National Water Week from 21 to 27 March. This year the celebration of United Nations World Water Day is hosted by the government of South Africa and will be held in Cape Town on 22 March. “SABI welcomes the historical celebration of the United Nations World Water Day in Cape Town, a great event for our country and the |
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Saving water – celebrate UN World Water Day |
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PLEASE BEWARE OF CON ARTISTS TARGETING IRRIGATION |
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Some slick con artists are targeting the When it “appears” they have paid for their orders via Internet banking, indeed they haven’t – and the truck has removed the equipment to an untraceable warehouse. Falsified Internet banking proof of payment is produced, paperwork which looks extremely convincing but the money is not in actual fact in the bank. Make sure the money is in the bank before releasing any goods, appears to be a golden rule to bear in mind. |
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Reminder | Onthou |
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Please watch the post for your SABI membership fees proforma invoice. Your membership fees for 2011 are now due. In these times of rising prices, SABI has managed to keep our yearly increase in membership fees to a respectable 8%; you will be pleased to hear. |
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SABI Eskom Farmers Days in March also sees the start of SABI Eskom Farmers Days, please call the SABI office on |
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SABI nooi maatskappye en lede in die besproeiingsbedryf om saam met SABI uit te stal in die Besproeiingstent tydens die week. Hierdie expo word aangebied deur Agri Mega Groep, wat reeds bekendheid in landboukringe verwerf het vir die aanbied van die jaarlikse Agri Mega Week in Bredasdorp. Die gedagte is om ‘n tent daar te stel waar klein en groot rolspelers in die besproeiingsbedryf hul produkte kan uitstal. Die geleentheid word ook geskep om verskillende lesings aan te bied en opleiding te doen aan verskillende belangegroepe. Maatskappy lede en lede word genooi om Riana te skakel vir meer inligting oor die geleentheid om uit te stal in die Besproeiingstent. Daar is slegs plek vir 16 uitstallers. Die koste om uit te stal vir die drie dae is R4 000. Kontak riana@sabi.co.za of telefoon nommer 021 850 8220 vir meer besonderhede. |
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Book now for SABI Congress 2011, which will be held from 2-5 August 2011 at Protea Hotel Kruger Gate, Hazyview (Mpumalanga), South Africa. With a superb theme, an excellent line-up of speakers and the celebration of SABI’s 35th Anniversary this is a Congress you must attend, as it promises to be one of the most memorable ever. Be there! Please call SABI on 021 850 8220 or email riana@sabi.co.za to book your place for Congress 021 850 8220 |
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Agri SA held its annual policy conference in Somerset West on 21 and 22 February 2011. This was a well-attended event with farmers, parliamentarians and the media in strong attendance. Described by some delegates as the most positive conference in a while, the event nevertheless stirred up debate. Of strong interest in particular was the revitalisation of agriculture as a sector providing jobs – from formal presentations from agricultural economists to discussion from the floor, agriculture’s role in job creation was explored in some depth.
Honourable OuBoet A lively parliamentarian present, ANC MP S Abram, a farmer from Vrede in the Free State, also fondly called Honourable OuBoet, particularly wanted to know about the loss of jobs and also advised the Ministers present – Minister Tina Joemat Pettersson and Minister Ebrahim Patel – to get together with the farmers and agriculturists on a sociable level to try to work more positively together, “sit met hulle om die vuur en deel ‘n stukkie vleis”. Also coming under the conference spotlight was South African farmers’ intent to expand into African countries; well-known sugarcane farmer Charl Senekal, who is heading up the search for opportunities for the Pro-Agri Forum in further countries in Africa, addressed this subject.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tina Joemat-Pettersson addressed the gathering on the topic of the South African government’s expectations of and approach to Agricultural Development in Africa.
Symbiotic She said, in her opening of her address, that the symbiotic relationship between her Department and Agri-SA is to be sustained and nurtured. “We need to continue along a path of open door policy that is characterised by dialogue that is open, robust, and frank – so that we are able to talk to one another and not through one another.
“There will be matters on which we agree and disagree, which is natural in any relationship however the test would be on how we manage those disagreements in a civil and mature manner.”
Agricultural elevation Minister Pettersson further said that it is clear thatagriculture has been elevated by President Zuma to a key player in economic development in SA and the African continent, and agriculture is also high on the agenda of COP 17 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Durban, to be held later this year.
Read more in-depth reportage on the Minister’s views on South African agriculture's expansion into Africa at the AGRI SA conference as well as highlights from other speakers in your forthcoming SABI magazine, April May 2011. |
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“Did you know March is the beginning of International Optimism Month? |
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SABI Western Cape held a meeting on 24th of February at Elsenburg, Stellenbosch. At a well-attended event members thoroughly enjoyed Gert van Wyk of Vinpro’s presentation: an Overview of the South African wine industry and top achievers in difficult times/Oorsig van die Suid-Afrikaanse en Top Presteerders in moeilike tye. Willem Smit of Netafim gave an informative presentation on Netafim’s ranges. Many thanks to Netafim for sponsoring the event, which concluded with a lovely braai. SABI’s Gauteng branch held a meeting on 24th of February 2011 in Silverton, Pretoria. At the well-attended event, Felix Reinders gave an interesting presentation on his recent visit to Indonesia, where ICID held its international executive council meeting. Felix is a member of SABI council and also chairman of SANCID. Colin Gewanlal gave an informative speech on all the various applications and products of Kaytech, who sponsored the meeting – many thanks to Kaytech. |
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As erkende verteenwoordigende organisasie van die besproeiingsbedryf in Suid-Afrika geassosieer met die optimale en effektiewe gebruik van besproeiingswater, organiseer en fasiliteer SABI jaarliks ‘n aantal opleidingsgeleenthede. The SABI Training Programme has now been finalised for 2011, and is available in your new SABI magazine for perusal and on the SABI website – www.sabi.co.za.Please ensure you make your bookings early for SABI Training courses, as the programme is popular and places are booked very quickly. Developed over 10 years, the SABI Training programme offers a course for First up in March 2011 from 15-17 March in Stellenbosch is an Irrigation Sales Assistant course - these courses are being well attended. Sales assistant success Lecturer for the Irrigation Sales Assistants course Johan Barnard says the Irrigation Sales Assistant Course held recently in He says: “The main imperative of the course is to give counter sales personnel a broader view of what is available in the irrigation market. We cover all the various brands and provide students information in six modules: pipes, fittings, sprinklers, valves, filters and pumps.” The SABI counter sales assistant course is a three day event, comprising classroom lectures, interactive videos, and hands-on practical sessions. For further information on SABI Training 2011 please feel free to contact SABI on 021 850 8220 or be in touch with Isobel van der Stoep, SABI’s Technical Executive Officer on isobel@sabi.co.za. To book you may also email amanda@sabi.co.za |
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SABI Training — Plan and book your training courses now |
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SABI Eskom Farmers’ Days |
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Bien Donné Agri Cape Week, 4 – 6 Mei 2011. Come book your space in the SABI Irrigation Tent |
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SABI Congress: Sustainable Irrigation 2011 for People, the Planet and Prosperity |
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SABI Branch Meetings |
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AGRI SA Conference |
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SNE (SABI National Examination) in Port Elizabeth on 17th March 2011 |
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Candidates may write the SNE in Port Elizabeth on 17 the March 2011. Success in the SNE results in Approved Designer status. To register to write the SNE in PE, please email amanda@sabi.co.za or phone 021 850 8220. |
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Pay a visit to the new SABI website, at www.sabi.co.za.
It’s modernised, it’s user friendly and uncluttered – let us know your thoughts on the new look please? |
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SABI Webwerf - nuut | SABI Website – new |
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SABI het een keer per maand ‘n radiopraatjie op RSG, Landbou Radio wat elke Vrydag tussen half een en kwart voor een uitgesaai word. 18 Maart en 15 April word daar ‘n praatjie uitgesaai, luister gerus na SABI kundiges. |
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Tune in, Skakel in - Radio Sonder Grense (RSG) |
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Have a chuckle A Department of Water representative stops at a Free State farm - and talks with the old farmer. He tells the farmer: "I need to inspect your farm for water allocations". The farmer says: "Okay, but don't go in that field over there". The government employee says: "Meneer, I have full authority with me here. See this card? This card means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I WISH on any agricultural land. No questions asked or answered. Do you understand?" The farmer nods politely and goes about his chores. Shortly, thereafter he hears loud screams and sees the water representative running for his life, followed close behind by the farmer's bull, who's gaining with every step. He is clearly terrified, and is screaming for help, so the old farmer throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs..... "Jou kaart, wys vir hom jou #@&n kaart!" |
