‘We should heed the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy’s (BFAP) call for decisive action to forge a sustainable future,’ stated Dr Ivan Meyer, the minister of agriculture for the Western Cape.
This statement from Minister Meyer follows the recent unveiling of the BFAP Baseline Agricultural Outlook 2023/2032.
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He continued, ‘BFAP’s call confirms that to realise the goals of the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) Growth for Jobs Strategy, we must harness every opportunity and advantage we can to negotiate with existing and potential trading partners. For this reason, we must continue our efforts to keep South Africa part of AGOA beyond 2025, as AGOA contributes significantly to export-led job creation in the agriculture sector.’
Having been established two decades ago, BFAP employs meticulous analysis, credible databases and integrated models to offer unique insights into the agriculture sector and its associated value chains.
The BFAP baseline for 2023, which provides a projection of agricultural production, consumption, prices and trade in South Africa for the period 2023/2022, has officially been revealed.
Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, the head of agriculture for the Western Cape, remarked, ‘As a founding member of BFAP, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) regards BFAP’s annual baseline as a key component of the department’s decision-making process. More recently, this baseline was used as a reference point for quarterly risk analysis and the impact of load shedding in the agriculture and agri-processing sectors.’
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The BFAP Baseline 2023/2032 highlights that the sector faces substantial challenges, yet these challenges are not insurmountable.
They reportedly encompass the necessity for a steady and favourable policy and investment environment, infrastructure advancement and services encompassing electricity, roads and water, the effective functioning of local municipalities and streamlined farmer support initiatives.
Minister Meyer affirmed, ‘The Western Cape government has diligently cultivated an environment conducive to investors and businesses, thereby inspiring consumer trust in the province. The Growth for Jobs Strategy outlines an all-encompassing, demanding, and ambitious objective for the Western Cape: achieving economic growth ranging from 4% to 6% by 2035.’
Minister Meyer concluded, ‘I am confident that given the agriculture sector’s track record of resilience, it will, with the support of the WCG, enhance its competitiveness and build a sustainable future for both primary and secondary agriculture.’
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