By Lebogang Mashala
Mathuba Genetics was honoured to participate in a meeting with global delegates from 20 countries within the G20 and was excited about the platform provided by the South African Department of Agriculture.
Emmanuel Modau, the founder and owner of Mathuba Genetics, has commended the Department of Agriculture for providing farmers with a platform to showcase their work to international industry stakeholders during the recent G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) held at the Ranch Resort in Polokwane, Limpopo.
Known as the “Father of the Bosvelder Sheep,” Modau raises Indigenous Veld Goats, Bosvelder Sheep and Savanna Goats on his farm located outside Makhado in Limpopo. He was the only exhibitor in the livestock category at the MACS meeting.
The three-day event, which took place last week, featured delegates from 20 countries that comprise the G20. Participants engaged in technical sessions and policy dialogues across six major themes:
- Transforming agrifood systems
- Protecting biodiversity and soil health
- Scaling climate-smart agriculture
- Strengthening bioeconomies
- Expanding digital agriculture
- Utilising 4IR technologies
During the G20 MACS meeting, Emmanuel Modau engaged delegates from Saudi Arabia to discuss the work Mathuba Genetics is doing in genetic improvement and selection for animals capable of surviving harsh conditions. Video: Supplied
According to Modau, the event was a significant success, offering farmers like him valuable exposure on the international stage. “We were privileged to participate in a meeting with global delegates from 20 countries within the G20. We were thrilled with the platform provided to Mathuba Genetics, which allowed us to engage in discussions with international delegates about the future of agriculture worldwide,” explained Modau.
He emphasised that the platform offered an excellent opportunity to connect with delegates from Saudi Arabia and Portugal, both of whom were very interested in the work of Mathuba Genetics. The delegate from Saudi Arabia discussed their plans to invest in developing their herds by importing proven genetics from partner countries and learning more about best practices.
This opportunity is particularly significant, as Saudi Arabia is a major consumer of goat meat, ranking 20th globally in 2021 with a consumption of 147 000 metric tons. Modau pointed out that Saudi Arabia relies heavily on imports to meet a substantial portion of its goat meat demand, as the country struggles to satisfy consumer needs. This situation presents local goat producers with a chance to enter that market.
Another highlight was the visit from officials of the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, specifically from the Small Stock Division, which focuses on genetics. They shared valuable information about their work and learned about Mathuba Genetics’ initiatives.
“It was fascinating to learn about their processes and compare them to ours regarding genetic improvement. We were able to exchange contact information with the hope of establishing a working relationship,” Modau stated.
The Portuguese officials were impressed by Mathuba Genetics’ approach to breeding hardy animals that thrive in harsh conditions with minimal intervention, involving less medication and supplementary feeding.
Modau concluded, “What I’ve learned from this experience is that when you do things the right way, you can achieve a lot.”
