"Agriculture, together with forestry, is going to be the biggest industry by far. There are 6.5 billion mouths to be fed in the world, and with the population growing with 75 million per year, there will be 10 billion by 2050," Mr Alistair Stewart said on March 24.

The Soutpansberg agricultural and forestry sectors do their part by thinking ahead and being pro-active. At a function of the Soutpansberg Tree and Plant Pest and Disease Council, hosted at Die Plaas Gastehuis, Mr Stewart of Molozi Trust said that he had had talks with the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry in January this year.

"I talked to her about embedded water, biological forestry, the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) recognition, light pollution, the pest and disease council, and the ecological footprint," Stewart said. There was apparently even a promise of a couple of million rands for forestry and agricultural biotechnology research.

One of the distinguished guests, Prof Mike Wingfield, Director of FABI (Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute) in Pretoria, lauded the Soutpansberg community and Stewart as key player for getting people together and being pro-active.

"We need more of what you do around the country," Prof Wingfield said.

"In order to feed, we have to cut waste, improve production and productivity, conserve land and sea, introduce better seed and cultivars and provide protection against pests, diseases and fire," Stewart said.

Concerning fire protection, the Soutpansberg area has made remarkable progress. Mr André Kruger, chairperson of the Zoutpansberg Fire Association and basis manager of Working on Fire (WoF), gave a report.

"Of the previous 29 fires, not one reached the treetops but they were extinguished quickly. Last year, we had the same or worse weather and other conditions for fire than Sabie, but we didn’t have the fire devastation that occurred there. It can be contributed to the cooperation of all the people and the quick response of the various fire organisations, the farm watch and the forestry sector," Mr Kruger said.

The farm watch divided the area into 15 sectors, with sector heads. The Zoutpansberg Fire Association used the same 15 sectors situated from Louis Trichardt to Tate Vondo. The sector heads trained their people in fire awareness.

In addition, WoF conducted fire awareness training for the community. Children from as young as primary school age were reached with fire awareness training. The training made a great impression, also due to the fact that some of them know that their family members lost their jobs after the fires of 1989 and 1994.

"We don’t have helicopters or fire brigades, but the people became involved. Furthermore, the fire tower put up by Molozi Trust helps a lot and the two fire towers that we now have work excellently," Kruger said.