South Africa’s agro-processing sector is attracting renewed national attention as its role in economic growth, food security and job creation comes into sharper focus.
By Lebogang Mashala, Editor at African Farming
The sector contributed an estimated 2.7% to South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023 and employed more than 460 000 people across its various divisions in the second quarter of 2024. It also remains the largest subsector within manufacturing, with food-processing value-add continuing to outperform overall manufacturing growth.
This is according to Bruce Toerien, managing director at BLU by Adcorp, who describes agro-processing as the critical link between agricultural production and consumer markets.
“As the country works to strengthen food security, expand exports and grow rural economies, the performance of the agro-processing sector is becoming increasingly central to South Africa’s overall economic resilience,” Toerien said.
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Changes are Affecting Skills Profile
However, the sector is undergoing rapid change. What was once considered a direct extension of agricultural labour has evolved into a complex, standards-driven environment. Operations are increasingly being shaped by stricter food-safety requirements, growing levels of automation, faster production cycles and pronounced seasonal demand patterns.
These changes are altering the skills profile required in factories, mills, abattoirs and packaging facilities nationwide. Rather than creating entirely new roles, the emphasis is shifting towards building deep, sector-specific experience. Workers are increasingly expected to adapt to advancing machinery and processing techniques while operating within tightly regulated, time-sensitive production environments.
Geography further complicates workforce development. Many agro-processing facilities are in remote or semirural areas, close to farming hubs and supply routes. According to Toerien, attracting and retaining skilled labour in these regions requires approaches that prioritise local recruitment networks, ongoing skills development and the creation of reliable worker pools that can expand or contract in line with demand.
“The cyclical nature of agro-processing is one of its defining characteristics,” Toerien said. “Labour requirements fluctuate with production cycles and consumer demand, making it essential to balance permanent staffing with temporary and seasonal capacity.”
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Evolving Workforce Needs
Flexible staffing models have become increasingly important, as they help align labour costs more closely with production levels. Without this flexibility, processors face higher risks and reduced operational efficiency during both peak and quieter periods.
Employers and recruiters in this sector need to align their recruitment and workforce management strategies with these operational realities. According to Toerien, achieving this requires recruitment expertise developed within the industry, along with a strong understanding of factory-floor conditions, compliance requirements and production pressures.
“These are high-intensity environments where quality and speed are non-negotiable. Production cannot stop simply because labour is unavailable or inadequately prepared,” he said.
Contingent and flexible staffing models, he added, enable processors to scale their workforce during peak production periods, reduce labour-related risks and maintain continuity without carrying excess costs during off-peak cycles. They also support extended shifts, strict turnaround times for perishable products and sudden production surges linked to seasonal demand.
For industry stakeholders, Toerien said the message is clear: agro-processing requires recruitment partners who understand the sector’s pace, pressures and regulatory environment, and talent strategies that can scale without compromising quality.
“While technology will continue to transform production lines, it is the people behind those systems who ultimately turn raw agricultural inputs into value,” he said.
Also read: SA agro-processors showcasing at world’s biggest food fair
