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Vibrant natural fibre colours and a lively atmosphere prevailed at this year’s Karoo Winter Wool Festival, despite the arctic weather conditions with a hint of sleet which continued throughout Saturday, 5 July.
The jam-packed BKB marquee tent welcomed two speakers at the Boerepraatjies-session on Saturday morning.
Wool and wallets
First off was Prof Waldo Krugell, a professor in Economics at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom campus, who took a look at the global economic outlook and what it means for the local wool industry.
“When one looks at a Karoo farm, you don’t necessarily think about global value chains,” he said. “Yet wool as a commodity is being influenced by everything that happens in the economy, for example fuel prices and the exchange rate. Soon we will find out what president Trump has decided with regard to possible tariff increases for those countries who are exporting goods to America, and what his decision will be concerning South African exports to his country.
“One thing is certain, and that is that US citizens will have to pay more for imported products if there are going to be major tariff increases.” Prof Krugell encouraged the audience to stay sensible and positive despite the significant challenges that are currently being experienced locally and across the world.”
Starvation challenge
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder of Gift of the Givers Foundation, has seen starving communities in rural areas in the Eastern Cape, where people literally have not seen or had any access to food for several days. He is of the notion that hunger and starvation in South Africa is one of the country’s biggest challenges today. Families often don’t know where the next meal is going to come from, and often, Gift of the Givers trucks will turn up in those places. “There is power in hope,” he said, talking about the effect of having the right mindset in life. “There is no use in living a healthy lifestyle and having a fit body if a person doesn’t have a positive mindset and hope for the future. Kindness, loving one another and seeing the needs of people, is what we need to help save lives. – Carin Venter, Plaas Media
