Ministers, local industry bodies meet to get SA's poultry industry on track

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Also in attendance were the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thokozile Didiza and the Deputy Minister of the DTI, Nomalungelo Gina.

"Minister Patel led the meeting and explained how he wished to build a strong poultry strategy that will ensure that AMIE with its international resources and SAPA with it local resources work together on common interests that will add value to the Poultry Master Plan of South Africa."

"The Minister’s vision is that, in association with government, four main strategic goals must be achieved," said Matthew.

Main goal strategies

Instead of protection, which will not work in the long-term, South Africa should build a strong chicken sector. This sector should include importers and exporters, and local producers considering ways of entering the export market. The government could play a role by securing opportunities through the Africa Free Trade Agreement.

As AMIE has members that can get local product exported, they must assist SAPA and emerging farmers with their endeavours.

The South African chicken industry should be price competitive. Therefore, if a tariff were to be imposed on imports, local producers would not be allowed to raise their prices.

Other markets need to be explored, and AMIE is to facilitate discussions with EU members over reciprocal trade.

Transformation must be a crucial part of the master plan.

"We applaud Minister Patel and Minister Didiza for their leadership which has already resulted in both AMIE and SAPA agreeing to work together to ensure that South African consumers retain their access to reasonably priced chicken."

"AMIE has been acknowledged for the first time as a key player in the local poultry market and is determined to play a significant role in building a sustainable poultry industry in partnership with SAPA, the emerging farmers and exporters and government. AMIE will engage SAPA and other role players in drawing up a business plan that will be presented to government next month," said Matthew.