By SayPro Deputy Chairperson Officer of the SayPro Royal Committee- Sapapi Johannes Mputla
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Distinguished Guests, Valued Partners, Esteemed Colleagues, and Members of the SayPro Family,
Good morning.
It is both an honour and a privilege to welcome you to SayPro Agriculture Day 2025 — a day of pride, progress, and purpose.
As the Deputy Chairperson Officer of SayPro, I stand before you not only as a representative of our leadership, but also as a voice of support and advocacy for the millions of lives touched by agriculture. Today, we pause to reflect on the power of the land — and the people who cultivate it.
Agriculture is more than a sector. It is the heartbeat of our economy, the strength of our communities, and the foundation of our development. And at SayPro, we have made it our mission to ensure that agriculture is respected, modernised, and supported — from policy to practice, from training to transformation.
This year, 2025, has been a year of both innovation and impact. Across the provinces, we have seen:
- Young people entering agriculture through our Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programmes, particularly in partnership with forward-thinking institutions like the University of Johannesburg.
- Women farmers receiving access to markets, finance, and leadership opportunities through SayPro-led empowerment initiatives.
- Technologies and smart farming solutions being introduced to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation.
- And most importantly, communities rising — stronger, more self-reliant, and more resilient than ever before.
As Deputy Chairperson, I am especially proud of the role SayPro plays in building trust, creating leadership pathways, and fostering inclusion within the agricultural space. We are not just hosting events; we are building movements. Movements that champion youth, protect rural livelihoods, and ensure that agriculture receives the dignity and investment it rightfully deserves.
Let us also remember that agriculture is a national responsibility. It touches every home, every meal, every future. And today, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that no farmer is forgotten, no intern is left unsupported, and no policy is pursued without fairness and sustainability in mind.
To our farmers: your work is the foundation of our progress.
To our youth: your energy is the force behind our innovation.
To our partners and institutions: your collaboration makes all of this possible.
And to the SayPro teams across all provinces: thank you for continuing to lead with excellence.
On this SayPro Agriculture Day 2025, let’s move forward together — hands in the soil, eyes on the future.
Thank you.
Happy Agriculture Day!