RUR A L T R A NSF ORM AT ION
Livestock producers in the informal sector often have access to only communal grazing areas that must be shared with other farmers in the community, complicating veld management.
Unlocking the potential of informal livestock farming Informal livestock production by communal and small-scale farmers already makes a significant contribution to food security in South Africa by serving low-income communities. The potential exists, however, to achieve substantial growth in this segment if farmers receive the type of support needed to increase productivity and grow their businesses, writes DENENE ERASMUS
“It is also unclear whether or not Onderstepoort Biological Products has sufficient finances and resources to develop and produce the volume of vaccines required by the livestock industry.” Dr Florence Nherera-Chokuda, head of farmer support and development at the National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, concurs, saying that insufficient access to veterinary services poses a serious challenge ivestock farming is one of the most important sectors in the South African for communal and smallagriculture industry, contributing the largest share in value terms, ahead scale livestock farmers, and of grain and horticulture production. But the sector’s importance is even a threat to the industry as a greater than official figures show, given that an estimated 20 per cent of whole. “Basic animal health livestock farmed in the country belongs to smallholder and communal services being supplied farmers who do not sell their animals into formal supply chains. by the Department of According to Gerhard van den Burgh, a data science and systems integration Agriculture, Land Reform specialist at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), this is especially and Rural Development true of the beef sector, with approximately 40 per cent managed within informal lack the necessary capacity production systems. to assist these farmers The informal market segment makes a large contribution to food security Dr Florence Nherera-Chokuda in implementing health and represents considerable untapped potential for growth, but unlocking this management plans such as potential will require several interventions aimed at increasing the productivity vaccination programmes. In levels of these production systems. the absence of regular vaccination, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, for example, could Veterinary services in short supply quickly spread amongst communal cattle, and “One priority should be the animal and public health interventions required to advance the sector,” from these herds to commercial cattle herds, says Van den Burgh. “Veterinary service delivery in South Africa is fragmented, often facing resulting in the closure of markets.” misalignment and lack of accountability between national, provincial and local government spheres.
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