South African agriculture is to get a multi-million Rand comprehensive electronic trade and call centre.
Agri SA and IT giant, PQ Africa, have joined forces, supported by IBIS business consultants, to establish Agri-Trade Centre a world class trade environment for farmers, agri-businesses and commodity organisations.
Agri SA Deputy President Japie Grobler and PQ Africa`s Chief Executive Officer Peter Watt will launch the Agri-Trade Centre on 10 November in Midrand. The initiative will operate in conjunction with the Agriinfo web gateway (www.agriinfo.co.za) and existing web pages of affiliates. This results in access to a wide range of essential information sources such as daily agricultural news and a unique agricultural weather forecast.
The centre aims to quickly and easily meet the products and services needs of all agribusinesses, farms and other agricultural organisations in South Africa through the use of a closed electronic environment. Secure transactions through PQ Africa`s Electronic Commerce Division, and fulfillment of orders through Agri SA`s network of co-ops, agri-businesses, commodity organisations, farmers` associations and provincial agricultural bodies will fast track the initiative.
By using PQ Africa`s leading technology solution, agriculture will leapfrog many other industry sectors into the 21st century and will in fact help to write the rules for electronic trade.
Users of the Agri-Trade Centre will not necessarily need immediate access to a computer or the Internet. Transactions will be handled countrywide at a central call centre through various access routes, including the Internet via telephone or satellite, cellphone, two-way radio, fax, and e-mail.
"We know that over 60% of all farmers already own a computer and use it for word processing and over 50% use, or plan to use, cell phones in the near future. Through Agri SA, and key partners like the Agricultural Business Chamber (ABC), PQ Africa will role out a phased approach to bringing the necessary technology to the agricultural industry," says Willem van Rensburg, group executive of PQ Africa`s Electronic Commerce Division.
Access to the Internet and reliable, safe and efficient electronic transactions will be brought within the reach of every farmer and agricultural role player. By means of a comprehensive training programme, clients will get the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the Agri-Trade Centre.
"Agriculture is one of South Africa`s largest earners of foreign exchange. Our vision for the industry is not only to allow the farmer or agricultural worker to get all they need from the Agri-Trade centre, or for the farmers wife to order her shopping via Agri-trade center. The idea is to form a community of interest with centralized resources where technology allows for better management of the industry as a whole," says van Rensburg.
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Agri SA
Agri SA is the representative body and national mouthpiece of the agricultural sector in South Africa. The organisation is focused on creating a favourable environment within which it will be possible for the farmer as entrepreneur to be financially independent. Formerly the South African Agricultural Union, Agri SA currently represents over 1300 farmer associations, 8 provincial unions, 84 agri-businesses previously known as agricultural co-ops, the central co-operatives, over 73 commodity producer organizations, over 60 livestock breeding associations and various agricultural education institutions.
Agri SA offers a wide spectrum of service to members. The areas in which added value on products must be facilitated for producers on national level are extensive : Soil Conservation and environmental affairs; land reform; aspects affecting small scale farmers; water resources; labour legislation; safety, law and order; rural local government; monetary policy; fiscal policy; financing; trade policy; industrial policy; agricultural extention; marketing; economical; financial market information; input costs; liquid fuel; transport; disease and pest control and food security.
In this negotiating environment Agri SA has an extremely important liaising function with the Government as well as other sectors and groupings in the national economy.
PQ Africa
PQ Africa is one of South Africa`s largest and most diversified supplier of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products and services. The company was formed in October 1997 through the merging of the operations of Persetel Holdings Limited and Q Data Limited.
This merger created a group of focused, solutions-driven ICT companies. The group remains well positioned to continue expanding into Southern African and greater African markets as the partner of first choice for existing and future clients.
PQ Africa was conceived as a meaningful vehicle for economic enablement when the National Information Technology acquisition Consortium (NITAC) acquired a 50% plus one share stake in the group. NITAC benefits about 900 000 individuals under the auspices of 22 organisations representing previously disadvantaged groups.