02 May 2024
By Gerrit Bezuidenhout
An inclusive plan aimed at benefiting all red meat producers forms part of the Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) vision for 2030.
“We need to make the pie bigger. That’s why RMIS doesn’t talk about transformation where the existing pie is getting thinner and thinner, but about inclusive growth where there is a place for all red meat producers – from new entrants of all backgrounds to major players – to participate,” said Dewald Olivier, executive director of RMIS at a farm day at Piet Plessis, North West.
RMIS has enlisted the help of the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy to create an actionable plan, based on animal health, meat safety, inclusive growth and market access, in collaboration with the primary production value chain.
“There is a place for everyone in the red meat industry, whether it’s free-range, grass-fed, grain-fed or niche products,” said Olivier. “The RMIS’s aim is to create a space for everyone to market their products. Remember, the industry deals with the trading of cattle, sheep and goats. Anything else diverts attention and becomes political. Therefore, we must be careful not to let the small jackals destroy the vineyard.”
With market access, RMIS has thrived in the past year, and in the last six months four new countries have increased their demand for South African red meat.
“The Saudi Arabian market was big news earlier this year but there is also demand from Oman, Iran, Singapore and Malaysia for both sheep and beef,” said Olivier.
Just last month, 52 000 sheep, 1 500 cattle and 250 goats were shipped to Kuwait. “Meanwhile, Oman has requested another 22 000 sheep. It is clear that we enjoy a strong market abroad. This means that more opportunities are being unlocked for the red meat industry, as more demand means that the opportunity to get involved in the red meat industry is getting better and better.”
This means South Africa must be competitive on the international stage. “We do not compete against other meat products such as pork or chicken because they are part of our local agriculture. We must compete on the international stage,” said Olivier.
Government remains necessary
To facilitate international trade, the departments of agriculture, land reform and rural development and trade and industry are also needed. With an inclusive plan, Olivier believes there is already a lot of goodwill from the government towards the red meat industry.
“The inclusivity plan applies to anyone who wants to join the industry, and with 250 000 more weaner calves needed, we will need many more entrants who meet the standard set by the Red Meat Producers Organisation. These are practices already applied by producers, as in the case of audits by Cape Wools and Karoo Lamb. There is a vision for 2030 and the hard work now lies ahead to take all our role players along to create a sustainable, viable red meat industry for the benefit of all its participants.”
