Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen said his department’s mission is to build a food system that is inclusive, competitive and sustainable, and that leaves no South African behind.
Introducing the departmental budget in parliament, he said South African agriculture stood at a crossroads.
“On one side, we see the extraordinary potential of this sector to generate jobs, contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) growth, strengthen exports, and revitalise rural economies.
“On the other side, we confront persistent risks: Climate shocks, high input costs, biosecurity failures, land degradation, weak infrastructure, and uneven access to markets and finance.
”There is also a human reality behind the figures – of smallholder farmers locked out of opportunity, of families facing food insecurity, of veterinary professionals overburdened and under-resourced, and of a nation that too often reacts to crisis rather than prepares for it.”
Stressing the risks of poor biosecurity at livestock facilities, he said a new Biosecurity Council would co-ordinate public, private and community responses on biosecurity issues.
“The greatest unseen threat to our sector today is not only climate, it is biosecurity failure.
“The 2023 bird flu outbreak taught us that. It was not just a health incident, it was a systemic shock. Egg prices skyrocketed, small producers folded, and consumer confidence plummeted.
“Today, we also face a foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, and growing concerns about swine flu and other livestock diseases.
“Let me be clear – biosecurity is not a veterinary issue – it is a national priority. It is as important to our future as electricity, water, and roads.”
Included in his vision for “a new kind of agriculture” were improved food security and nutrition measures, especially for children, enhanced veterinary training and capacity and more collaboration with industry bodies such as those for grains, poultry and citrus.
“Sometimes, the most effective thing government can do is to get out of the way – create a conducive policy environment, ensure market integrity, and let the industry lead.
“That is why we are shifting from control to collaboration – from top-down mandates to public-private partnerships (PPPs).
“Whether it is vaccine roll-out, trade promotion, or smallholder integration, PPPs are the key to scale, efficiency, and innovation. We will expand our collaboration with retailers, financiers, processors, and producer organisations to build a competitive and inclusive value chain,” Steenhuisen said.
