Agriculture Professor Mohammad Karaan passed away

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, says she is greatly saddened to learn about Professor Mohammad Karaan’s passing.

Karaan is a former Dean of the Faculty of Agri-Sciences at Stellenbosch University and a champion of agriculture and rural development.

He served in the government’s National Planning Commission and was the Chairperson of the National Agricultural Marketing Council. He is also a former board member of the Land Bank and the Agricultural Research Council and most recently, a member of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture.

“Prof Karaan’s passing is a massive loss for the country, at a time when we need leading development thinkers and practitioners like him the most, as the country begins to implement the Economic Recovery Plan,” said Minister Didiza.

“Chapter six of the National Development Plan was largely drawn from his vision for agricultural and rural development, which emphasised a need for public-private partnership approaches in agricultural development.”

Western Cape Agricultural MEC, Dr. Ivan Meyer, said Karaan brought people together.

‘’He was a bridge builder between government and the agriculture sector and brought people together. He was a great facilitator of dialogue and reason in the political economy of South Africa.  He understood the impact of policy uncertainty on the agricultural sector and offered pragmatic solutions.  Agriculture was his passion and his legacy will continue to inspire us. ‘’

‘’He also contributed to developing the Western Cape Department of Agriculture's approach to agri-processing, the design of halaal products, and the training required for farmers to access the halaal markets.’’ Meyer added.

 

PICTURED: (Prof.  Mohammad Karaan

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Done By: Mitchum George