Khomotso Mashiloane is a former Livestock Technical Adviser for Ruminants at Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS), with a strong academic background and extensive experience in animal production. Despite his relative youth, he has acquired significant knowledge through various positions he has held and demonstrates eagerness to learn and make an impact through sustainable agricultural solutions, from farm to fork. His interests extend to sustainability and the environment, as they are fundamental to fostering a brighter future for agriculture.
1. What is RMIS and what role does it plays in the agricultural sector?
RMIS in South Africa is a service-oriented organisation dedicated to improving the entire red-meat value chain, from “field to future”. It delivers practical solutions and tangible impacts across the industry by collaborating with producers, feedlots, auction houses, abattoirs and decision-makers. It aims to create a resilient, competitive and future-ready red meat industry while promoting inclusive growth in SA.
2. What does inclusive growth in the red meat industry mean to you?
Economic growth that is distributed fairly across society, creating opportunities for all. Inclusive growth is not limited to racial transformation within the industry, but also serves as a development strategy to ensure the benefits of growth and development are shared among all stakeholders, including farmers – large and small, workers, consumers and the broader public.
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3. Were you involved in the mobile-trailer programme RMIS launched?
Yes. I was responsible for several key areas of RMIS mobile-trailer programme to ensure the success and impact of this initiative, including:
Planning and scheduling: Working with the RMIS team to organise the deployment of the trailer to different farming communities.
Farmer outreach: Engaging with local farmers to inform them about the programme, its benefits and how they can participate.
Partnership development: Establishing partnerships with local agricultural organisations, veterinary services and community leaders to support the programme’s implementation.
Service Delivery: Managing the provision of services offered including vaccinations, health assessments and training sessions.
Resource allocation: Ensuring the trailer is stocked with essential supplies, animal handling and medical equipment, and educational materials.
4. What does the RMIS hope to achieve with the trailer?
The mobile trailer plays a crucial role in farming communities, especially where animal handling facilities are absent, limited or non-functional. It aims to improve livestock health, productivity and farmer education. Its ultimate goal is to increase small-scale farmers’ participation in the formal value chain, targeting 250 000 weaners from small-scale farmers by 2030, as part of our Red Meat Strategy 2030’s inclusive growth goal.
Also read: RMIS backs 9 groundbreaking research projects to transform SA’s red meat industry
5. What are the three main challenges for the farmers the RMIS services?
Disease management and biosecurity: Most farmers lack understanding of early disease detection and proper health protocols. They mainly believe in using a single treatment, such as antibiotics, as a cure-all for all diseases. We aim to provide training on the active ingredients of medications and offer basic practical measures, including the costs of vaccination versus treatment.
Cultural and traditional practices: Deeply rooted cultural and traditional practices may conflict with modern cattle management techniques. We aim to respect cultural practices while gradually introducing modern techniques, working with community leaders to gain acceptance and trust.
Record-keeping and traceability: Lack of effective record-keeping systems and resistance to ear tagging and other traceability measures, which in turn affect participation benefits in the formal value chain, such as auctions, are perceived as a market barrier rather than a requirement. We want to offer training on formal market requirements.
The recent foot-and-mouth-disease outbreaks have made traceability imperative in the red meat industry, a project that RMIS is prioritising. We aim to establish a comprehensive traceability system for the South African red-meat sector. This system will monitor livestock and meat products throughout the entire value chain, from production to consumption, using a unique identifier for each production unit. The key aspects of RMIS traceability involve a global location number (GLN).
Each farm, auction house, feedlot, abattoir and processing facility receives a unique production unit number (PUN), also known as a GLN, which is a standardised identifier. In phase one, the production units within the red meat value chain are identified and numbered. The traceability system aims to improve disease management, combat stock theft, enhance trade and increase market access, particularly for exports.
The PUN will facilitate data sharing among stakeholders in the value chain, including the exchange of minimum traceability data and transport documents. The success of the traceability platform depends on stakeholder collaboration. RMIS aims to integrate various record-keeping systems and ensure that the platform complies with international standards for traceability and transparency.
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