Agri sector relatively robust, despite challenges, Purchase

At present, the South African agricultural sector is relatively robust and healthy, including the red meat industry.

Agri sector relatively robust, despite challenges, Purchase
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This was according to Agbiz CEO, Dr John Purchase, speaking at the 2017 Aldam Stockman School.

He said the local red meat industry was relatively technologically advanced and internationally competitive.

“The industry is a major contributor to food security, economic growth and employment in the country.”

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According to Purchase, the red meat value chain was nevertheless operating in uncertain times.

The industry was faced with a multitude of risks and variables, some of which were controllable, while others were not, or less so, he said.

He added that South Africans took the sector far too much for granted, and reiterated that it was a national asset that all South Africans should nurture and cherish.

Water availability and quality, environmental sustainability, climate change and research and development, were some of the challenges facing the sector.

On the positive side, consumer spending traits were changing and the per capita income in SA was growing, he said.

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Annelie Coleman represents Farmer’s Weekly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape. Agriculture is in her blood. She grew up on a maize farm in the Wesselsbron district where her brother is still continuing with the family business. Annelie is passionate about the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly interested in beef cattle farming, especially with the indigenous African breeds. She’s an avid reader and owns a comprehensive collection of Africana covering hunting in colonial Africa, missionary history of same period, as well as Rhodesian literature.