Inclusivity is crucial to SA's livestock sector

Mooketsa Ramasodi, acting director general of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, argues that bringing South Africa’s informal livestock sector fully on board will not only improve the lives and future prospects of smallholder farmers but also maximise profits for the industry as a whole.

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Much has been achieved in the livestock sector in recent years, but even more can be done if we work together. In the words of [former] president Nelson Mandela, ‘unity is strength’. We all need to come together and focus on a core vision for the sector.

Unity is relevant not only to South Africa’s Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan but also to the continent as a whole. SubSaharan Africa, for example, is home to about 14% of the world’s livestock, yet it only produces about 2,8% of its meat and milk.We need to rectify this situation. Our region has this wonderful resource at our disposal, but it is not being utilised efficiently.

The South African agriculture sector showed glimpses of growth over the second quarter [Q2] of 2021. Statistics South Africa [Stats SA] reported that the sector grew 3,1% in Q2. This was on the back of the 13% growth achieved in 2020. Clearly, agriculture is on the rise.

LIVESTOCK SECTOR GROWTH

The year 2016 marked an important turning point for South Africa’s beef industry when it became a net exporter of this commodity. Exports nearly doubled from just under 20 000t to 39 000t. This achievement is indicative of improved efficiency throughout the value chain.

In monetary terms, the livestock industry contributes 48% to the gross value of the agriculture sector, which was recorded at R317 billion by Stats SA in 2021. Let’s bear in mind, too, that this growth was experienced within the context of climate change, disease outbreaks, and fluctuating economic conditions.