Ostrich Business Chamber at Agri SA conference

22 April 2010

Representatives from all agricultural sectors in South Africa attended the Agri SA Conference that was held in Somerset West on 25 to 26 February. Discussions mainly focussed on what is needed to make commercial agriculture successful and what to do in order to assist upcoming farmers to be successful.

All sectors had the opportunity to share their best practices and success stories of farmer development initiatives.

The South African Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC) introduced conference attendees to its Ostri-BEE model as well as various developmental projects ostrich farmers follow to make upcoming farmers and new entrants part of the ostrich industry. The ostrich industry spends an amount of R12 million on Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) annually. The initiatives of the ostrich industry benefit more than 15 000 previously disadvantaged rural people either directly or indirectly. More than 600 farms of ostrich producers are BBBEE active. New entrants are welcomed at various points in the ostrich industry's value chain – either as primary producers or as processors of ostrich products.

Photo: From left is Johannes Moller (President: Agri SA); Mangou Ntsoane (Department of Agriculture: Limpopo); Dr Theo de Jager, (Vice President: Agri SA) and Annette Steyn ((DA MP) Portfolio Committee for Land Reform and Rural Development).

Source: South African Ostrich Business Chamber