DOA - OSTRICH CHAMBER TIGHTENS PROCESSES

12 December 2007

SWELLENDAM: The National Department of Agriculture, together with the Provincial Department of Agriculture and the Agriculture Research Council, led by the DG Masiphula Mbongwa met the South African Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC), led by Mr Anton Kruger to further strengthen the commitment of keeping the South African ostrich industry well ahead of its global competitors and to analyse progress that will ensure that this premium industry continues to dominate export to the EU market.

Henceforth, bi-annual meetings strategically aligned to market demand cycles will take place. The meeting agreed to a workplan to seamlessly synchronise operations through the entire value chain; implement in service training to increase capacity; further develop market monitoring techniques; and explore a speedy process to investigate the potential to establish a dedicated veterinary unit to service the industry.

In addition, the ARC will further build expert capacity; review the management of diagnostic services to improve lead times on diagnostics information in order for the industry to meet its market demand.

The industry, which employs 20 000 people, exports 90% of products in feathers, leather and meat to the EU is important to the sector especially to the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape provinces.

The message coming across was that “we have to maintain a disciplined execution right through the value chain and reinforce this united force to ensure that South Africa keeps the market,” the DG emphasised.

Source: Department of Agriculture