Key agri opportunities in South Africa

Earlier this week, the Department of Trade and Industry minister, Dr Davies, introduced the Industrial Policy Action Plans (IPAPs) for the next two years. These are areas within the economy which hold greater promise to earn foreign exchange and grow jobs, and which therefore enjoy government incentives and support.

Key opportunities of interest to this website are listed here, and linked to the relevant chapter in The Agri Handbook:

• Fruit juices, indigenous teas (Red bush/rooibos and Honeybush), fruits and wine
• Fruit and vegetable canning
• Cassava (to increase production so as to replace imports)
• Biofuels
• Small-scale milling
• Broilers (chicken meat)
• The intervention in the food-processing sector is a skills programme
• Aquaculture
• Forestry (sawmilling, furniture manufacturing)

Although not agricultural of nature, of interest is the focus on renewable energy. Between 2011 and 2013 more than R100 Billion was committed towards developing renewable energy projects in this country. This is mainly solar and wind energy.

The oil & gas sector is also looked at (including shale gas).